AN exhibition of the calligraphic work of Iranian refugee and artist Vahid Sabbaghian, who now lives in Stockton, has gone on show at a Teesside gallery.

The exhibition, at the Local Focus Gallery, in Middlesbrough Art Gallery, will run from Wednesday until Saturday, October 19.

Mr Sabbaghian was born in Iran in 1966 and studied at the University of Art, in Teheran. He taught general art and design in Iran for ten years before becoming a refugee.

His work, which includes caricatures, calligraphy, photography and design, has been featured in more than 20 exhibitions in countries including Australia, Dubai, Germany and Moscow.

He said: "As an artist it is important to me, like many others, to be able to express myself openly and freely without censorship or bias.

"This exhibition is an exploration of contemporary compositions within calligraphy, in which I've tried to keep a feeling for the age of the text.

"In using new techniques and modern materials, I felt a need to highlight the contrast between surfaces and textures.

"As the process carried me forward I found the textured border becoming a metaphor for containment and the restriction of personal feeling and freedom.

"The texts I've used are taken from the Koran and the Bible - however, this is just to allow me to find the best shape for the text and take the images beyond the narrative."