In between all the large exhibitions and fairs last week in London, one could easily miss some absolute gems running at different venues around the city. And one of them, IMHO, is up on view at @wilder.gallery, where @mortkhakshoor is having his solo exhibition Dirty Words and a Melody. Organized in collaboration w @mothflower_, the Iranian-born, London-based artist is presenting a body of (mostly small-scale) paintings that depict "fragments of possible narratives" inspired to some extent by the tragicomical world of Shakespeare, with a focus on male bodies and personas. • There are so many elements of #MortezaKhakshoor's work that are ticking all the important boxes for me - expressive, painterly approach to building his visuals, bold use of punchy, vibrant colors, drawing at the core of his practice, casual mix of techniques and mediums (use of crayons), the overall atmosphere, and the way his scenes are framed. The results are captivating little gems in which likely real scenes are alternated and modified into intriguing visuals with sustained atmosphere and accentuated light and shadow play. With an obvious focus on male characters, the artist is both exploring and parodying the male-dominated environment around him, not rarely transforming deviant behaviors into shameful, yet somehow funny anecdotes. • Whether portraying a male pinup-wannabee, a romantic moment, or a nighttime street scene, there is a notable urge to emphasize the ambiance with an intense light setup and casually step away from realistic depiction. Playing with the scale, proportions, perspective, and colors, the characters and objects shapeshift and transfigure in order to underline a certain aspect of the narrative. And while "readable" at first sight, the often puzzling scenes are in fact built from bright color fields painted with acrylics on wood, incorporating its rough texture as part of the work. This coarseness, along with the suggestive light setting, and the weirdness of the scene, is in stark contrast with the dominant bright colors and the almost naive, careless way of depicting these tragicomical situations. • All photos via Wilder gallery