Statement:

Exploring how people position their bodies in different contexts has always fascinated me. About five or six years ago, I used to photograph people at parties and then create paintings based on the photos. During the global pandemic, I found my inspiration and subjects in nature, especially in the mountains. The human figure was no longer part of my compositions.///

When life returned to normal after the pandemic, the human body returned to my work, but this time dancing in nature. However, I could not blend the bodies into the natural environment as much as I wanted to, and after several attempts, I concluded that by letting go of the clothing, the figures could perfectly blend with nature, while at the same time making my expression richer.

Part of my practice has been to come across a notion I have well understood, yet have had little chance to express. Like most women, while my body has been the shell I have lived within, I have had experiences of hiding my body or being ashamed of it. I have tried to project a desire into these free-roaming figures, to practice a higher agency over their bodies. After years of painting with acrylics, I gradually moved to using oil paint, which creates a luminous appearance, as if the layers have lost their materiality. Oil allowed me to express light
and shadow and luminescence in a more natural way, and I continued to brush away excess paint from my pieces to enhance this effect. These portraits smile and giggle, mockingly looking away from the viewer’s gaze. They feel carefree and emancipated.

Elahe Ramezani