Artist Conversation #4

Artist: Mahsa Soroudi

Exhibition: Inner Fragments

Media: Painting

Website: https://www.7500miles.org/curators

Mahsa Soroudi is an artist who was born and raised in Tehran. When she got married, she moved with her husband to Malaysia , and now they live in Southern California. After listening to her interview, Mahsa is very passionate about her origins and where she is from, and she takes pride in that in her work. She likes to explore different ideas and show her audience what it’s like for women living in Iran.

Mahsa’s first piece that is shown in the interview is of her planted succulents. One of them in in a tray with different compartments, and the other is in a pot. The colors of the succulents are light green, and then there is the brown soil that it’s planted in. Her other work that she discussed in the interview is a collaboration with other Iran artists, and all the paintings portray their life in Iran. A lot of the pieces look very abstract and some have various colors, while others are black and white, with a hint of a primary color. I personally think that these pieces convey a very powerful and important message.

Mahsa got her inspiration from culture and where she grew up. She has a personal connection and experience with these other artists because they are all from the same place, and have gone through the same experiences together. The ideas explored in there work is that they want their audience to forget about the stereotypes that most people have on Iranian woman, and to instead look at their art and realize that they are people to, and they shouldn’t be treated any differently, just because of where they are from.

I think Mahsa Soroudi is an inspiration too many women and young girls. I really enjoyed learning about her persona life and where she is from. I don’t think it’s very common for girls and women from Iran to have someone who is willing to break stereotypes. Her message is powerful and her artwork and collaborations really did impress me.