Redefining how art is seen and experienced ™
N E W
Y O R K
As the speed of destruction goes up, the attention and enjoyment of the beauty of the nature lowers, and this is getting less and less by each generation. As such, I have expedited my painting activities and have used simpler forms, and colors to establish a clearer connection with the audience. Since 12 years ago when I considered personalizing my paintings, I have done my best not to give up drawing, figure drawing, portrait, and still nature. However, my main area of activity which I usually present as my art is all the paintings of nature. I have created some projects about it including stacks of 15 to 25 paintings, and each project displays a different view of the nature.
* In a wider context, why do you think art is imperative for the world, and why is it important for you personally as artist?
Art plays a very important role among all humanity. Over the history, all the efforts to cut down the influence of art in people's lives have been in vain. Let's imagine two types of society, one exposed to the art and benefits from art education, and the second one does not have any contacts with the art and culture. The difference between these two is not complex. In a society where art is not considered something essential, not freely expressed, and viewed as just time-consuming, the fundamentals of its culture and historical-cultural values are destroyed. Such society suffers from lack of hope in life, and no development would be made when it comes to important societal issues.
* Artists always vary in the importance placed on communicating their own vision without question or limitation, and the emphasis and importance placed on the audience, and how it can and will relate to them. How do you feel when people interpret your artwork inversely, or is there one primary thing you hope to have the viewer experience? I never expect my audience to achieve a specific understanding by studying my artworks. I just aim to transfer the great feeling and the energy gained throughout my painting activity. I just expect the observer views my paintings with their own attitudes and special character. Every person has some inborn emotions about nature deep inside their senses, and I hope those emotions will come alive by looking at my paintings, so the sense is from viewers themselves. The paintings are like keys with which gates to pictures of people's memory are opened, or to put it in simpler terms, the paintings act like an incentive. This is my desired aim of painting, awakening a dormant memory left, unused and buried beneath the brain layers. However short-lived it might be, the forgotten memories are supposed to be activated by my paintings and this can be said is the ultimate intention of the nature.
* The creative approach is a very personal methodology, and every artist differs when it comes to their artistic process. How do you approach creation- can you elaborate on your working process? I have based my work on empiricism and have benefit from a series of theoretical and practical trainings. After receiving four years of academic training, I chose empiricism to focus on. In terms of creative approach, I have always taken two approaches: 1. Paying attention to personal and social subjects related to the art of painting, and also visual studies and analyzing other arts like theatre, architecture, dance, music, along with studies on some theoretical subjects like art history, aestheticism, philosophy of art etc. 2. Perfectionism and understanding perfection and scaling to the point where purification of the soul and transparency of the conscious, and a clearer understanding of the external world is achieved. Such an approach will undoubtedly affect every person's artistic creativity, and will play an important role in personal attitudes especially in moral areas. I have always been deeply affected by this approach.
*What are the principle themes and focus of your work? Something that triggered my yearning for painting, and has been my inspirational source, and is so much reflected in art is nature.
*Your aesthetic; while routed in fundamental art historical themes, is also very distinctive. I’m very interested in are artist with a unique vision places themselves within the art context; which other art and artists they are inspired and influenced by. Within the evolution of your artistic journey, have you found a specific affinity to certain artists, and if so, why? All my efforts over my artistic career has been aimed at reaching an independent character, and finding a sort of art which will take me to a position specified by my personality and distinguished from all other artworks and artists. To reach this aim, I have always benefited from studies, findings and approaches and attitudes of the immortal artists. In each study on a specific approach, there has been one artist profoundly appreciated by me.
* With each work, or as an artist as a whole, what do you wish to communicate to the audience, and how does this specifically effects the final work? Does this change with different works, or series, or does it remain the same with all of your creations? My major concern which has had considerable influence on my work is the incessant destruction of the natural environment by the one so much in need of it, that is, the man.
IN CONVERSATION WITH: Mojtaba Arabzadeh
* In your evolution as an artist, (both creatively, conceptually and pragmatically), what has been the biggest frustration or obstacle? I have experienced a lot of problems to achieve my aim and more importantly stay on what pleases me. Surely, such problems will continue to rise because I'm living among peoples who do not feel the necessity of art and culture in their lives. Thus, there is lack of audience for artists and this means insufficient income for them. The problem however rises from a more serious insufficiency and that is the intellect, culture and life style which is known as The Third World Country thinking. In such culture and thinking style, there are millions of over and cover obstacles. The main reason that such societies have been being left behind is indoctrination. Here everything is indoctrinated in the name of a true and irreversible logic, an unquestionable philosophy and an intellectual freedom approach, and the minds are trained that anything else is wrong. Naturally, issues like education, creative thinking, right way of thinking and many other issues all have lost their true essence and have been left for people in the forms of hopeful words.
* Which of your works stands out as a highlight, favorite, or significant point in your creative growth and development? And why was it most significant to you as an artist? I completed this favorite work of mine about 8 years ago in which I could see the results of all my efforts and hopes. While working on it, I gained a new approach toward art which was the result of my freedom in choosing media and techniques in painting.