A sculpture exhibition titled ‘Floral Compositions, Travelers of Time’ by Hoda Zarbaf, an Iranian expatriate artist, is currently on view at Tehran’s Aaran Gallery.
It is her second sculpture series and the collection is comprised of items made up of knick-knacks from the family home, recycled clothing, abandoned furniture pieces, stuffed dolls and the varied artifacts she gathered while strolling around Tehran, the Persian art magazine ‘Tandis’ reported.
Zarbaf in the new series created in Tehran, explores the tales of her past.
“Abandoned pieces of clothing or old family household items, which have an intimate connection with my family from my earlier times in Tehran, are merged with newly composed sculptures, reconnecting them with past memories,” she said.
She makes mixed media figurative sculptures using textiles, old furniture and used clothing.
“I generally hand-sew my work without the use of adhesives or other tools. Most of the time I find myself gravitating towards life-size pieces.”
The sculptures borrow their identity, both in form and concept, “from the dichotomies” the artist has experienced, “in her past and present life.”
In her works, Zarbaf puts modern forms into practice in order to attach old and timeworn stuff together through the traditional folk techniques of stitching and patching and connect opposite concepts: giveaways and valuables, mushy and solid, old and new.
Moreover, Zarbaf takes her works to a new level by embedding video, sound and lights in the sculptures through which she expresses her journey “as a traveler through time.”
Hoda Zarbaf, 34, is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist, who has ventured through a variety of materials, techniques and literature to make her sculptures.
She is a graduate in painting from the University of Tehran. In 2008, she relocated to Canada and completed her master’s degree.
Currently, she uses recycled textiles, pre-owned clothing, old toys and furniture to make figurative sculptures.
The exhibit will run through May 26 at the venue, located at No. 12, Dey St., North Kheradmand Avenue.
