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My work is
relatively personal stories about female
identity and reveals the aspect of appearing,
disappearing and reappearing, that is
situated within the structure of my native and
cultural heritage. The work expresses my need to
reconcile these two cultures which reflect both
my past and present. My motivation for creating
these hybrid personalities relates to how I see
myself in the American society. During the past
few years I have collected American consumer
images, such as postage stamp and coloring books
and Asianized the features of their legendary
figures. I carefully selected materials for
their formal properties in order to communicate
my intention to the viewer. I intend to generate
a surface to draw, write, doodle and make
personal notes in order to examine my personal
view in relation to the media that I use.
Despite the distorted and dismembered body
parts, my invented female figures are rather
playful, humorous and sensual. I tend to
confound fixed notion of female gender and foil
preconceptions of the exotic other from both
American and Iranian culture. I exclusively
incorporate Eastern and Western female icon
imagery to represent the perceived feminine
ideal. Interchangeable Heads and Bodies
extends the term shifting statues for me, and
gives an access to share my experiences with the
viewer. It reveals a deep sense of illusion and
reality through layers of meaningful and
traditional components that are placed side by
side on the surface. Animal skins (rawhide and
sheep skin), Fragmented poems and written diary
are another playful interpretation and metaphors
for my interchangeable body parts. Choosing this
variety of materials gives me a chance to
consider my personal viewpoint and reflect on
aspects of my identity.
Afarin
Rahmanifar -
Interchangeable heads and
bodies |