Paintings
2024
Dirty Acrylics
Dirty Acrylics collection delves into the unique properties of acrylic paint while offering a deeply personal reflection on relationships, sexuality, and gender. Through this body of paintings, Iman explores unsettling and intimate subjects using a technique he developed by experimenting with acrylic paint to create dirty, unexpected and interesting textures and shapes.
Clocking
Acrylics on Canvas
92 x 56 cm
2024
A Love Cycle
Acrylic on Canvas
92 x 66 cm
2024
Mother
Acrylics on Canvas
132 x 78 cm
2024
Box
Acrylics on Canvas
61 x 121 cm
2024
Good Day
Acrylics on Canvas
40 x 121 cm
2024
Dancing with Cows
Acrylics on Canvas
40 x 30 cm
2024
Frame
Acrylics on Canvas
60 x 50 cm
2024
Self-Portrait
Acrylics on Canvas
122 x 92 cm
2024
Blue Flowers
Acrylic on Canvas
60 x 76 cm
2024
Shield
Oil on canvas
92 x 122 cm
2024
Hands
Oil on canvas
50 x 40 cm
2024
The Corner
Oil on canvas
101 x 76 cm
2024
The Next Night
Oil Canvas
92 x 122 cm
2024
2023
Lonely
Oil on canvas
122 x 92 cm
2023
Sunset
Oil on canvas
122 x 92 cm
2023
Witch Man
Oil on canvas
122 x 92 cm
2023
Life
A collection of paintings was created during the June and July 2023 Berlin Art Institute studio program. The program provided artists with a studio and regular critique and feedback from local and visiting fellow artists and critics. In this collection, I tried to explore different methods and ideas more freely, focusing on the concepts of life, freedom, and women from my own personal point of view and emotions. These concepts were inspired by Iran's 2023 uprising, and the collection is dedicated to the brave and oppressed Iranians. Although my art cannot assist them in any way.
Calm Head
Acrylic on Primed and Raw Canvas, not stretched
180 x 145 cm
2023
The Thinker
Oil on canvas
130 x 85 cm
2023
At Night
Oil on canvas
135 x 120 cm
2023
Hell Life
Oil on canvas
120 x 85 cm
2023
Adolescence
Oil on canvas
120 x 85 cm
2023
Cave man
Oil on canvas
140 x 85 cm
2023
Lake
Oil on canvas
210 x 120 cm
2023
Hell
Hell Collection is the first part of a new trilogy inspired by an exhibition of Salvador Dali that I visited in Barcelona in 2022. The trilogy is divided into three parts - Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven - and my goal in this series is to represent my own feelings and understanding of religious concepts that are shared among the three main monotheistic religions, including my own birth religion of Islam.
The representation of the female body in art has been a subject of great interest throughout history. It has been depicted in countless ways, often embodying seemingly opposite concepts. It has been a symbol of fertility and purity, associated with the divine feminine, and it has also been portrayed as seductive and sinful, linked with temptation and transgression.
While my personal interest lies in the portrayal of female figures, I chose it as the primary subject for this series to challenge societal and religious taboos that surround it. By featuring female figures instead of male figures, which is the norm in religious art, I aimed to spark conversations around gender norms and representation.
Schutzengel (guardian angel)
Oil on Canvas
75 x 52 cm
2023
"This painting was influenced by the beginning of my three-month artist residency in Berlin, where I was inspired by the concept of 'Schutzengel' in German culture, which refers to guardian angels believed to protect and guide individuals throughout their lives. A concept that has been represented in German art through history.
During my residency, I found myself in a new and unfamiliar environment, experiencing both a sense of alienation and excitement while anticipating new and fulfilling experiences. The emotions of happiness and stress intertwined, forming the essence of this piece. The guardian angel, although comforting, appears to be descending, symbolizing the complexities of my own journey due to the financial and personal sacrifices I had to make to pursue my artistic path in Berlin.
The dominant surrounding buildings represent the overwhelming aspects of life, while the obscure shadows lurking below them add an element of mystery and uncertainty. The interplay of these elements seeks to evoke the human condition, with its blend of challenges and possibilities.
Ultimately, this painting captures an enthralling scene of the human experience, reflecting the dichotomy between comfort and uncertainty in our journey through life.
In Betweens
Oil on Canvas
40 x 30 cm
2023
As Iranian Muslim living in a secular western country I always feel stuck between different words, culturally, intellectually, spiritually etc.
Humans
Oil on Canvas
70 x 30 cm
2023
When the lives of generations are distorted due to imposing and forcing an ideology, regardless of whether it is right or wrong, inevitably, there will be an opposite extreme force shaping. This #painting is a reaction to #iran 's current political and social state. During the #Jina #mahsaamini uprising, the regime, which was killing peaceful protesters, falsely claimed to the fundamental conservatives that these protesters were pursuing depravity and nudity. I couldn't help but wonder how nudity could be used to justify killing children. What if someone wants to be nude? What if I, paint nude #female #figure ?
To my surprise, the disapproval for such idea didn't come from my community but rather from Western women's rights movements, correctly pointing out that I am contributing to the objectification of the female body, a trend that has persisted throughout art history. That is another reaction to the destruction of the past. I do not think there is any problem with a man or a woman's sexual gaze, but throughout history, being in a position of power as a man has caused destruction and pain towards women, much like any other destruction throughout history. Religion, philosophy, sociology, and science have all caused pain and destruction not because of their existence, but because of human flaws such as power and greed. This painting is the final piece from the Hell collection.
Execution of Eve
Oil on Canvas
101 x 52 cm
2023
The representation of the female body in art has been a subject of great interest throughout history. It has been depicted in countless ways, often embodying seemingly opposite concepts. It has been a symbol of fertility and purity, associated with the divine feminine, and it has also been portrayed as seductive and sinful, linked with temptation and transgression.
Through my painting of the female figure, I aim to explore the contradictions and metaphors around female body. By incorporating the opposing concepts and contradictions into my artwork, I hope to draw attention to the complex and often problematic relationships that exist between the female form and society.
Furthermore, I have chosen to reference the common topic of the story of Adam and Eve committing the first sin, but have situated this narrative within an industrial setting to convey my perspective on the human condition in the modern era. By bringing together these seemingly disparate elements, I hope to create a thought-provoking work of art that challenges the viewer to consider their own relationship with the female body and the wider world around them.
Sorrow
Oil on Canvas
75 x 52
2023
Sorrow is the second painting in Hell Collection. in this collection, I experimented with underpainting techniques, for instance in this particular piece I used blue as underpaint to create a cold and dead feeling, and a snowy background to amplify this emotion. The crow flying over the scene symbolizes the encounter with death, which I believe is the deepest sorrow that humans experience.
Despite the mostly monotone color palette of the scene, I added moderate warm colors to the figure, representing how our existence and being alive is what causes us to feel pain and sorrow. Without this existence, we would not feel loss or experience sorrow.
Full Moon
Oil on Canvas
64 x 51
2023
Full Moon is the third painting in the Hell collection, aiming to depict the duality of choices we face. It explores how we are often pulled towards opposing desires, which can have both positive and negative effects. In this captivating artwork, the canvas is divided in half to represent the contrasting aspects that shape our choices. A central figure symbolizes the delicate balance we experience.
On the right side, a vibrant scene portrays a blossoming tree in bright light, symbolizing one path and the potential for good outcomes resulting from our choices. On the left side, a darker space holds a mesmerizing, radiant moon, representing alternative desires or paths, inviting reflection on the various facets of decision-making.
By focusing on the duality of choices without moral judgment, Full Moon invites contemplation of the intricacies of decision-making. It reminds us of the complex interplay between opposing desires and their impact on our lives.
As the third piece in the Hell collection, Full Moon contributes to our exploration of the human experience, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the transformative power of embracing the complexities of decision-making.
A collection of past paintings.
Self-portrait of an immigrant
Oil on Canvas
60 x 40 cm
2023
Window
Oil on Canvas
40 x 60 cm
2022
Amer
Oil on Canvas
40 x 30 cm
2023
Woman and Cat
Oil on Canvas
40 x 60 cm
2019
Portrait of my Love
Oil on Canvas
90 x 60 cm
2017