Lunch Time Artist Talks: Parissa Rad

colorful drawing on parchment includes trees and shrubs, a luxuriant goldfish, Iranian pattern motifs, pomegranates, a white horned cow, the sun, clouds

Date and Time

Wed, May 25, 2022 - 12:00pm

Part of the Exhibition

Nostalgic memories of growing up Iranian and both the utilitarian and decorative art forms that originate from Iran inspire me deeply. The rich detail and color palettes of Persian Miniature art, Persian rugs, Islamic tilework, textiles, nature, food, and holidays originating from Iran have informed my worldview since a very young age and have been the visual livelihood of وطن “Vatan”, meaning homeland. I have created elegant and detail-oriented motifs that celebrate the essence of Iranian art, culture, and tradition.

The meditative quality of throwing teapots on the pottery wheel along with the careful and intricate drawing styles I achieve using gouache on paper are deeply fulfilling for me. Recitations of poetry by Hafiz and Rumi flow through the work, telling stories about love, beauty, and nature. The sacred fruit of the pomegranate appears multiple times, symbolizing abundance, rebirth, and life. Childhood portraits of my family and I in Iran brings forth the humanization of cultural identity and emphasizes the memories they represent. The process of creating this body of work has been a catalyst for connecting with my immediate and distant family in Iran.

By working in collage style drawings, I create a visual flow of symbolism and memory. Varying levels of detail and atmospheric space parallels the non-linear and fragmented manifestation of ethnic and cultural identity within the Iranian diaspora. By celebrating the acceptance of Iranian identities that have been overshadowed, “Vatan” serves as a platform where I and other Iranians of the diaspora can safely explore narratives within these contexts.

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