artBahrain.org

Where do you live?

I live 50 miles north of NYC.

How long have you lived there and what made you choose to live there?

33yrs. I was able to build a large [3200sq.ft. 3 story] studio attached to my residence. After graduation I wanted to secure a teaching job at the State University of NY at Albany and this location, Lake Mahopac, would be between Albany and NYC.

How do you make a living?

While attending the University, I worked in a conservation/restoration studio in NYC, and I continue to do this work today.

When did you start painting and what made you decide to become an artist?

I started at age 12 and instead of high school; I attended a Fine Art School in Isfahan, my place of birth, for six years, doing 3 yrs of drawing and 3 of painting. I felt comfortable and confident there.

Did your family encourage your creativity?

My family was very supportive of my talent in art. My father used to say to me after viewing one of my paintings, “Your hand should be cast in gold”. My uncles would reward me with coins and praise, as would my older brother.

Would you describe your education at the B.F.A. level of the school you attended as very academic?

At Queens College and at Brooklyn College, where I did my graduate work, we were studying beyond visual realism ie. Line and brush strokes can be applied toward the expression of emotion. We explored a more in depth study of art.

Did you have to hold a job while you were attending university?

I always worked while in school, primarily in the restoration and conservation of paintings field.

Did you find any professors at Brooklyn Academy who supported your work?

There are two of my professors who stand out in my mind, Phillip Pearlstein and Leanart Anderson, both of whom supported me in my artwork.

How would you characterize your style of painting?

Now my work is more expressive and deals with current events happening all over the world. It is very important to me that my art work communicate with the masses, therefore, I strive for simplicity of form and expression of line of the drama toward my subject matter, such as: “Election Day”, the composition has a similarity to “Winter Road” by Georgia O’keeffe. Another example is “Fratricide” where there is an influence of Caravaggio’s paintings. I always liked Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”, which through his brush strokes and color, expresses his blatant emotion. If the painting is compelling, then I am satisfied.

How did your early work differ from what you're doing now?

My early works were very realistic in copying nature. Now I would describe my work as narrative realism.

How does time manifest itself within your works?

Regarding the events happening today, it is essential for the artist to express his feelings relating to today’s world rather than sitting and painting pretty, marketable, pictures. An example would be “Fratricide” which manifests the events in Iran today, brother against brother; however, there is no winner is there? I have seen a Goya work, in the Prado museum in Madrid, of two brothers fighting each other; they were hitting each other over the head with bats. Goya reflected through his artwork, the events of his day. Although, by day he painted for the aristocracy, he painted at night, the true events of the day and his true inner feelings.

You have been away from Iran for more than 40 years and some of your work deals with such issues as democracy in Iran. What do you try and convey in your work?

I have been away from Iran for 43 years and I will always be grateful that my foundation was ‘poured’ there; however, because the center of the art world is located in NYC, I chose to live in NY. I have a NYC website www.nycartsonline.com this site is devoted to the influence this country has had on me and on my art work. The true democracy of my country was established in 1953 by an elected Prime Minister, however, there were many elements involved that did not want a small country in the Middle East to have a democratic system, as conflict and tension is big business for industrialized nations. “Election Day” depicts a line of women preparing to vote, it’s a good first step toward democracy, although the figures are faceless. “Democracy on Trial” is a depiction of the truth…The painting, “The Wall”, depicts a small child staring up at an insurmountably high wall in bleakness, however atop this wall is a glimmer of bright sunshine [hope] for his future on the other side. All of these works may be seen on my website, www.iranianpaintings.com In this country, [USA], the artist has the freedom to paint and express his true feelings without fearing repercussion. Through this freedom, creativity can grow boundlessly.

What do you hope to provoke with your own work on these issues?

I truly hope that my work, in a simplified way, communicates with the masses and provokes thought.

Do you think about your adopted country as home, or do you ever dream of going back to Isfahan?

I always think of my childhood, upbringing, and my culture, however, I live in the U.S. by choice, therefore, this makes me an Iranian American.

What were the greatest differences you noticed when you first arrived?

When I arrived in the U.S. in the late 60’s, it was during the ‘Pop Culture’. It was during this time that I was furthering my education at the University. The art culture of NYC was very new to me.

What are the greatest differences you notice now?

The greatest differences in art that I notice now are that there is so much marketing of baseless art. I say baseless because I can guarantee that most of these artists have no basic foundation, even in drawing. The marketers are marketing them to selective people. I often wonder what percentage of the people can communicate with this kind of art.

From an insider’s point of view, what should we know before we go to New York?

Fortunately, every last Thursday of the month all of the galleries have their openings. The armory in NYC has a variety of art exhibitions as well. The renowned art museums are highly educational institutions these days, including introducing young students from high schools to art and exposing them at an early age to the world of art.

What’s your perfect day out in New York?

A perfect day in NYC for me would be going to the previews of auctions of art- work at Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

What are you currently working on?

I have recently finished the painting titled “Nepotism”, it is on my website, www.Iranianpaintings.com and it was sold to a private collector in Ohio. I am currently considering several options for my next work. A painting is a time consuming process that has to be ‘thought out’ long before the first brush stroke.