Across the Space Separating
January 13, 2020 @ 8:00 am - February 27, 2020 @ 5:00 pm
Across the Space Separating
Kiana Honarmand
I am a Middle Eastern woman living and working in the United States. My creative work address issues related to my cultural identity. I explore the space between the imagery from my cultural background and the Western ideals of my foreground. This is my hybrid portrayal of Middle Eastern and European art where two parts of my identity merge during this time-period in which these two cultures clash.
My work is a commentary on sociopolitical issues related to my life in Iran, such as censorship and violation of women’s rights, as well as, the Westerners perception of the Middle East. These issues have deeply affected my life and many others. I talk about the censorship I grew up with by obscuring images from art history. I talk about contemporary incidents such as stoning, acid attacks against women, and imprisonment of women’s rights activists. Growing up in Iran, I felt stuck between tradition and modernity, as did many other people in my generation. Iran had already become westernized before the 1979 revolution changed the culture to a more religious and traditional one.
My work is influenced by my status as female growing up in the Middle East, who is currently living in the United States. I consider myself a conceptually based artist. In the process of creating my work, I make all my aesthetic and technical decisions based on my concept and ideas. I use different digital fabrication technologies such as Laser Cutters, CNC Routers, 3D Scanners and 3D printer, in combination with the traditional methods of craft.
Honarmand will also be giving an artist talk in the galleries for the opening of her exhibition.
Exhibition Run: January 13 – February 27, 2020
Artist Talk: Tuesday, January 14, at 5:00pm
Image: Decorum, 2016, Installation View