Where is the home of transnationalism today? Should a person only choose one home, or can they have many homes? The journey to Canada from my birthplace of Iran has shaped my thesis exhibition. The influences from my two homes are felt through three separate yet interconnected multi-media installations: Illusionary Prism, Between Selves and In-between Memories. Illusionary Prism is a wall-sized video projection of a symmetrically abstracted Saskatchewan landscape reminiscent of a kaleidoscope and inspired by Persian patterning. My personal growth in this new environment is evidenced in Between Selves, a performance-for-video paying homage to the purifying power of water through embodied poetry. Finally, the thematic explored in all of these works coalesces In-between Memories, bridging two cultures by showing the Saskatchewan landscape through the lens of Islamic patterns and the power of reflectivity.

There is a lot happening beneath the surface of my work. I see the work as providing a jumping off point for important discussions around identity, displacement, and notions of freedom. Ultimately, artwork builds connections between people and experience, which provides mutual feelings and insights. I hold a strong belief that artists have an obligation towards society; the sole act of creation, of thinking though and examining life, has an impact on society and how we view the world and our place within it. Humans are defined by their landscape, social interactions and sense of belonging. My work is a testament to this and highlights the discovery of one’s place from seemingly divergent paths.

My work is deeply personal and based in lived experience, with traces of narrative, cultural traditions, and symbolic forms. I work through a process of abstracting these elements, juxtaposing different visual cues, materials, and cultural references to elicit an emotive resonance. We listen to the stories of other people to understand their lives, and in the process of this listening, there is potential for our stories to be woven together through a process of understanding and empathy. In this way, making art is simultaneously a personal act of freedom and a sharing of voice. Humans are defined by their landscape, social interactions, and sense of belonging. My work is a testament to this and highlights the discovery of one’s place from seemingly divergent paths.