Mohammad Barrangi
BBC World Service · The Documentary · In the Studio
The Last Rain in Wonderland
Iranian-born artist and former Paralympian Mohammad Barrangi creates intricate, dreamlike worlds - Wonderlands - where myth and reality collide. His bold, layered works - spanning murals, prints, and 3D sculptures - fuse Persian aesthetics, ancient symbols, and surreal hybrid creatures, often blending women and animals into fantastical forms.
Born without the use of his left arm, Barrangi has developed a distinctive printmaking technique, working on the floor and stabilising his materials with his feet. His art, exhibited in major international galleries - including the British Museum and the Royal Collection - explores themes of identity, exile, and disability.
For his latest project, The Last Rain in Wonderland, Barrangi shifts his focus to the global climate crisis, weaving the stories of displaced communities and endangered animals in southern Iran into his visually striking work.
Following his creative process, Sahar Zand documents Barrangi’s journey as he prepares for a major exhibition at the New Art Exchange in Nottingham. Through vivid imagery and intricate textures, his work becomes a powerful reflection on migration, memory, and the fragile landscapes we risk losing - a Wonderland that is both breathtaking and disappearing.
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Credits
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Sahar Zand
Presenter & Producer
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Stephen Hughes
Series Producer
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Rebecca Stratford
Executive Producer
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Simon Pitts
Commissioning Editor