Frame Collection
Dawn
Oil on canvas
30″ x 40″
I draw deep inspiration from the bravery and tenacity of women who boldly stand up for their rights, particularly in Iran and worldwide. For example, the feminist protests that have emerged in Iran in response to the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, who was killed for defying compulsory hijab laws, have profoundly impacted my work. As an Iranian woman, I grew up under the constraints of mandatory hijab, which represented the cultural, religious and societal restrictions imposed upon me.
My painting depicts the symbolic frame that has confined Iranian women for generations. However, I represent this frame in a misty atmosphere, obscuring it from a clear view. This portrayal signifies the struggle of women in Iran, who are fighting for their freedom and autonomy, and to break free from the societal norms and cultural restrictions that have confined them for so long.
The light inside the frame symbolizes hope, the shining beacon of a future where women can freely choose who they want to be and how they want to live. The three colours, green and red, showing blood and white in her scarf, represent the map of Iran, a nod to the strength and resilience of Iranian women who have fought for their rights for generations.
Through my art, I aim to shine a light on the struggle of Iranian women and women worldwide and to give voice to their stories of courage, resilience and hope for a better future.
Freedom
Oil on canvas
30” x 40”
A picture of an Iranian woman with the hope to see a brighter time shining onto her and reflecting through her eyes, looking up at the fading frame. A frame that represents all the restrictions within the anti-women regime that she experiences, a frame that is falling apart. The scarf has fallen from her head, and even the chain can no longer keep it on.
Frame
Oil on canvas
47” × 59”
In my paintings and artworks, I portray the struggles and concerns that I have faced as an immigrant woman. No matter what country one emigrates from, your beliefs, values, traditions, and culture are like the contents of a suitcase that one carries throughout their life in a new country.
This new painting, Frame, uses symbolism that recalls surrealism and is painted in a naturalistic manner. I have used my daughter as the model in order to consider the differences between my life experience and hers. She is half covered and half-revealed, to express how she is part of two worlds. To portray the limitations of any point of view, I have her holding a frame, outside which a colder, less accurate quality of light is depicted. The draped Persian carpet over her legs references both Iran and symbolizes heaven on the earth. But, as I am not fully able to feel at home in this new place, the carpet is not laid fully flat upon the ground. The figure is enclosed by curtains that prevent her from being fully present in her current reality. In this painting, I reflect on myself in both a personal way and in relation to society. My hope is for the imagery to resonate with migrants of any background and to reveal the complexity of the experience to those who haven’t gone through it.
Nichole
Oil on linen
28″ x 40″
The narrative of a Jamaican immigrant woman inspires my painting. She relocated to Canada with her children after being divorced in order to pursue work and a better life. Prior to her arrival, she viewed Canada as a utopia. And her attitude toward the new world is radically different. Her mind has a frame in which all colours can be realized separately, but the actuality of the world is quite different. She is dealing with a variety of issues in order to sustain herself and her family. She is currently employed as a maid, and one of her ambitions is to open her own cleaning business to bring her family closer together.
Home
Oil on linen
40″ x 28″
Some people are looking for their true home but sometimes it is very close to you or even next to you, but they are still looking for home somewhere else.
Beg
Oil on canvas
8″ x 8″
This small oil realistic painting captures a critical moment in the life of a young girl whose fate has been dictated by the strict and oppressive norms of her society. Set against a dark background, the girl stands alone in her wedding dress, her face dishevelled and makeup smudged as if she has been crying uncontrollably.
The painting is a powerful representation of a society that denies its citizens the freedom to express their sexuality and imposes arranged marriages on young people who have different sexual identities, regardless of their desires or inclinations. The girl’s ruined makeup and the forlorn expression on her face suggest a deep sense of despair and hopelessness as if she is begging for her last chance to be free.
This painting speaks to the limitations and homophobia that are rampant in certain cultures and societies, and the toll they take on the lives of individuals who are denied the basic right to love and be loved on their own terms. Through this work, the artist invites viewers to reflect on the importance of individual liberty and the devastating consequences of denying it to others.
Battleground
Oil on canvas
60″ x 40″
As a Middle Eastern female artist, I've always been fascinated by the connection between my homeland, the women who inhabit it, and the challenges they face. Particularly in Iran, I've observed how women gracefully blend difficulties with their inherent beauty, seeking to bring a sense of peace into their lives.
One of the most captivating aspects of this fusion is found in the exquisite flowers adorning Iranian carpets, symbolizing a piece of paradise on Earth. In my painting, I aim to portray an Iranian immigrant woman bearing the map of Iran on her back, adorned with stunning floral patterns from these carpets. These flowers represent the inner beauty and paradise within her and serve as a testament to the beauty that stems from her homeland.
In addition, I've incorporated other symbols on her body to signify her integration into a new society while retaining elements of her past. Her posture, with her hair neatly tied back, symbolizes her readiness and strength to advocate for her rights and support women in her homeland, all within an unfamiliar world that often presents unique challenges for women.
Your body is a battleground - Barbara Kruger