‘I see myself as both Iranian and Australian and I believe that my Turquoise Acrylic series expresses this well. Similar to my other paintings in this series, the theme is consistently about travel and movement. With movement expressed as methodology. The use of bitumen in my turquoise work relates to the long road I have traveled to arrive at this stage of my life in Australia. Carpet pieces in the oil series are representative of nomadic existence, small pieces of carpet a reminder of Eastern tradition brought with me to Australia, uniting East and West. My original home united with my new home. The viewer will see my story unfold, embracing two traditions, intertwining and weaving my culture into my artwork.’
When I lived in Shiraz, one of the most historical cities in Iran, I became familiar with the hand woven textiles of nearby nomadic people (Ashayers) whose works are “Woven from the soul, spun from the heart”. I pull these colours and forms inspired from the heart of tribal art and pour them on my canvas in an abstract form.
In my work I join tribal weaves with abstract western style painting while retaining the authenticity of each. At times my work becomes highly abstract while at other times it refers back to tribal life; it is a combination of strands that are simultaneously one and many.
In my work the seduction of the surface, the vibrant colours, draw the viewer into the event of perception at the surface of the painting. This is reminiscent of issues taken up in modernist colour field painting: the holding of patches of colour that seduce the viewer.
I experiment with cutting the canvas and building up really thick layers with textiles, treating the painting like a collage. I sew on to the canvas with various textiles, reflecting the density and energy in every inch similar to the hand woven carpets that are symbolic of marriage of so many elegant elements including that of time, colour and artistic expressions.
My paintings are an attempt to explore our relationship to simpler modes of living that are more attuned to the natural environment. I live and work in Sydney where I am continuing my research and education in fine art.