Anahita Ghazanfari

Statement

I truly believe that art is soulful and resides deep within oneself. Art is roused by the harmonious vibes and beauty of nature that envelopes us. Nature is within us as it is around us and we all hail from nature. Modernity does not annul this fact. Nature touches and invokes its most primal creativity in an artist. Hence, works of art are projections of an artist’s soul to the outside world. In my case, nature speaks to my soul and predominantly through its magnificent beauty and permanence paradoxical to the evanescence imposed by human ambition and limitations. Nature gives us recognition of source and hope of continuity.

My paintings are not merely a result of direct observations but a complex combination of diverse elements augmented by compelling recollections of specific emotions that overwhelmed me as I am engulfed in the quintessential calmness of nature. It’s inspirationally elating.

Thus, the images from Nature Sublime are a communicative manifestation of revelations and new emotions as well as ideas pertaining to human perception. Analogically, paintings are alike stop-signs amid our hurried modern life. They remind us to pause in cognizance to the evident and intrinsic beauty that exists around us. I strive for equilibrium to our daily chaotic rat race and the harmony inherent to nature.

In my view, art is the relationship between fantasy and snapshots of reality. It is poetry in shades, hues and colours. Art comes to me as a form of expression and exploration and gives voice to my emotions, fears, dreams, identity and aspirations. A condensed aspect of my theme is “stratification”. The message is: “You should look past stratum to see things that you might not see at first glance”.

I am highly influenced by Iranian Islamic art, which is all about patterns and bringing life as a nature to architecture and paintings. “Islamic artists habitually employed flowers and trees as decorative motifs for the embellishment of cloth, objects, personal items and buildings”

I am highly influenced by Iranian Islamic art, which is all about patterns and bringing life as a nature to architecture and paintings.

My paintings are depictures relating stories. There is an absence of focal points while every portion of depictions has its very own voice and power to relate and continue with the story. There is also, and for similar reasons, adoption of Islamic ornateness for more centric arrangements to patterns while avoiding obvious focal points.

The idea of bringing nature indoors into homes and adorning buildings via Iranian Islamic architecture is somewhat irresistible to me. It is the symbolism of bringing an almost forgotten part back to life and to attune to our modern way of living.

GlogauAIR Project

Art is everywhere. It is everything around us; the infrastructures, the people, their cultures, nature…that is where I get my inspiration. And to me, Berlin is a land full of inspiration. From a troubled past, the beautiful city has risen to a liberal world city of creative, expressive art paradise.

The people of Berlin are also a beautiful wonder with so many stories I look forward to capturing with my camera. From a repressive past filled with war, genocide, and a divisive, oppressive regiment, the people of Berlin show a fascinating spirit of resilience and endurance that makes the city stand out.

I find myself attracted to and inspired by their liberal views; their willingness to admit their past and forge a new future of openness and expression is so refreshing.

Since the 1990s, it has gone through a massive redefinition and change. The injection of urban views weaved intricately into age-old traditions make the city a melting pot of culture and diversity; a world that deserves to be captured in stillness and shared.

In my paintings patterns are as important as the main subjects and somehow it’s reflects the place I am in and I get inspired by. The street art and walls in Berlin are the greatest in the world and Berlin has the history of it.

The idea of me being in Berlin is all about exploring that part of the art which is all over the city and brings identity to the city. And in a way became an urban identity itself. The outside walls fill with the paintings and patterns, with two different sides, different stories. I want to create the stories but not in the way they were before. It is about new people, new memories, new perspectives.

Learning the culture, seeing the people and involving in community, discovering how these stories are universal in nature, though the symbolism and meanings may change from culture to culture.

Working on two mediums which is photography and painting as well as digital painting would be my main focus. The idea of bringing out the hidden faces behind the wall.

As an artist I also believe in being in the place to get an inspiration and getting involved with the community is also my concern.

CV Summary

b. 1977, Iran.

Exhibitions

• 2016 “Langkawi Art Biennale 2016” Langkawi, Malaysia
• 2016 “IMMORTAL?” Installation International Group exhibition, L’atelier Rouge Gallery, KL, Malaysia
• 2016 “Quatre Femmes” Group Exhibition, L’atelier Rouge Gallery, KL, Malaysia
• 2016 ”Exploration”AND”Expression”,Residency exhibition, Port Commune, KL, Malaysia
• 2016 ”The story of Rooms” Solo Exhibition, Atelier Art Gallery, KL, Malaysia
• 2016 Daydreaming Group Show, Ella Art Space, KL, Malaysia
• 2015 Art Connexion International, Matic Gallery, KL, Malaysia
• 2015 International Exhibition of Iranian Artist in SouthEast Asia and Pacific, Matic Gallery, KL, Malaysia
• 2014 Contemporary Iranian Artists Exhibition, Melaka Art Gallery, Melaka, Malaysia
• 2014 Iranian Artist Painting Exhibition, Cube Gallery, KL, Malaysia
• 2013 International Women’s Day Exhibition, Art Malaysia Viva Gallery, KL, Malaysia
• 2012 SEPULAH DAH Iranian Artist Exhibition, Artseni gallery, KL, Malaysia
• 2012 Malaysia Iran Art Exhibition MAIRA, Gallery Aswara, KL, Malaysia
• 2010 Chosen in first Monorail Photo Festival, Malaysia
• 2006 Autumn solo photo exhibition, Ferdos Gallery, Iran
• 2002 First position in Abyaneh group photo exhibition/competition, ElmOFarhang University, Iran
• 2001 First position in Dialogue of Civilizations group photo exhibition/competition, ElmOFarhang University, Iran
• 2001 Participation in group painting exhibition in Nivaran Art Gallery, Iran
• 2000 Ahvaz solo photo exhibition, Iran

Work and Artist participation

• 2016 Documentary Photographer At Langkawi Art Biennale Langkawi, Malaysia, November
• 2016 Balik balik Art Bazar, National Art Gallery, KL, Malaysia,
• 2015 Artist in Residence, Sembilan Art residency, Seremban, Malaysia, November
• 2014 Documentary Photographer At Langkawi Art Biennale 2014, Langkawi, Malaysia, October
• 2014 Full time Photographer, Center for Content Creation, Limkokwing University, Cyberjaya, Malaysia
• 2010 Freelance Photographer and Writer, Monorail Magazine, Iranian Lifestyle Magazine, KL, Malaysia,

Media Interview

• 2016 IMMORTAL? Interview – Nanyang Press Newspaper, KL, Malaysia
• 2016 IMMORTAL? Interview – SinChew Press Newspapers, KL, Malaysia
• 2016 IMMORTAL? Interview – BFM Radio “The Bigger Picture” KL, Malaysia
• 2016 Quatre Femmes Interview – SinChew Press Newspapers, KL, Malaysia
• 2016 Exploration X Expression Interview – BFM Radio “The Bigger Picture” KL, Malaysia
• 2016 The Story Of Rooms Interview, ENanyang Website, KL, Malaysia
• 2016 Changing the Landscape, Marie Claire Magazine, KL, Malaysia

Gallery