Meet foroozan shirghani | multidisciplinary artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with foroozan shirghani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi foroozan, why did you pursue a creative career?
I always thought about where I could freely experience and discover life beyond the usual rules and regulations. I first experienced a sense of freedom when I was a child and wandering around my father’s farm with my sketch book. Since then, I have been mesmerized by art and nature and they always give me such a feeling of strength and peace that I could not give up on them. Art, like an opium, always soothes and makes life’s suffering bearable for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My artistic career started when I was accepted to the art university in Tehran. I always knew this would be a challenging path and would require a wide range of experience and awareness. Since graduating with an MFA degree, I have showcased my artwork in over fifty exhibitions around the world and taught in two universities in Tehran. For me, teaching art has always been a great way to keep motivated, learning and ever expanding my artistic skills.

My work usually stems from my personal experiences. I mainly focus on psychological and socio-political issues, especially identity challenges that an individual faces within today’s social life. During my creative process I explore themes of fragility, vulnerability, loss, suffering and pressure exerted on the human body by these forces. In my work objects have a symbolic nature and also express social behaviors.

My previous collection entitled “Gaze” explores the subject of eyeglasses. My portraits stare from behind multi-purpose glasses casting “gaze” or a hesitant look elsewhere. These differing glasses, when overlapped, present a vision beyond commonplace perceptions.

Using compressed plastic bottles as inspiration, my current collection is entitled “Alienation”, the work explores ideas of present-day fragmentation and alienation of the human identity. Gradually the loss of character and coherence of identity ultimately leads to the collapse of the body and alienation from itself and humanity.

As an immigrant artist, I address these life-altering situations formally with fragmentation, deformation and eventually destruction of my subjects and mediums. The bodies I create exist in an apocalyptic world where time, place and even the very appearance of humanity does not exist. My work includes painting, ceramic sculptures, abstract video, textile art, and large-scale installations of my sculptures.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I would highly recommend spending part of your day hiking the beautiful Malibu Creek State Park in the Santa Monica mountains. If you are in the mood for art, there are always amazing shows at the Broad, LACMA and Getty museums. One of my favorite spots to observe all the diversity of LA is the iconic “Venice beach”. If you get hungry for seafood or other ethnic cravings Abbot Kinney Street has an abundance of delicious restaurants to choose from. For a first-time visitor in the US, I would certainly recommend visiting Lowes Hardware store and for the artists, Blick Art Supply is a must! Both stores will have you astonished at the selection of everything you can possibly imagine all under one roof.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

There are people in my life whose presence I am most grateful for, yet it is difficult for me to mention all those names, they know who they are. In general, I have been very fortunate to have been exposed to such a variety of places, books, movies and creative individuals that challenged me to think deeply. Those experiences have taught me that no reflection, speculation or perception in life is certain. I owe an enormous amount of respect and praise to those great artists, authors, philosophers, and environments that I have visited. Each one has encouraged me to open my mind and expand my creative and personal path.

Website: www.foroozanshirghani.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CVFFRI2oY16/?utm_medium=copy_link

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/foroozan-shirghani-b5150669

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foroozan.shirghani

Image Credits
reza khodayar