After a number of years of drawing and painting, I came
up with an idea to create a new art form. I wanted to create
sculpted figures of silk mounted on a painted background. I
named this work Tableaus.
The
idea originated in 1997, when I received some hand-made silk
fabrics and books on the Nomads of Iran. The words and the
pictures in these books presented people of great strength and
honour. Despite their harsh environments and living with only
the basic necessities, the men and women of these tribes have
stayed true to their beliefs, their values, and their way of
life for hundreds of years.
I was
particularly interested in the dynamic lifestyles of the women
in these tribes. I wanted to present these women and their
roles and relationships in their dynamic and colourful
environment. My idea was to create these women using the
hand-made silk fabrics that they themselves had created. This
was the beginning of Tableaus.
In
1998, I traveled to London, England to display my work. There
was a great level of interest in the Tableaus because of their
novelty and originality. This inspired me to put more focus
into creating these Tableaus.
Since
then I have continued to create Tableaus of women from
different cultures and backgrounds. All the women in Tableaus
have one thing in common, and that is their search for
enlightenment. Each piece is a symbol of every woman who
believes in herself and in the roles that she plays in her
life as a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, and a friend.
It is
very exciting for me to create these pieces and to experience
how my art can communicate and connect with people of so many
different cultures and nations. It is truly inspirational!