Portfolio
Illustaration
Folklore
2024
This illustration was created based on a private client’s order for printing on T-shirts and postal cards. The client specializes in printing designs related to pop culture, slang, and folklore songs. The initial inspiration for this design came from a song from the 1350s that has been trending within the Iranian community on Instagram. After sketching various designs, these two were finalized based on the client’s decision.
Digital Illustration, Printable size
Hey Caliban are you on your PMS?
2024
This illustration was created in protest and as an argument against the mistreatment that society often directs toward women. It addresses the cliché surrounding how women are treated during their menstrual cycles. There exists a harmful misconception that, regardless of what a woman says or thinks, if she sounds agitated or furious, it must be due to her PMS (premenstrual syndrome). This dismisses her valid emotions and rights. The illustration serves as a powerful statement. It highlights a group of people who habitually blame women solely based on their hormonal functions. In an ironic twist, even Caliban, known for his anger and frustration, is told that his feelings stem from something less serious.
Pen on Paper, Digital Effects, 20*20 CM
Khayyam is right
2024
This illustration is inspired by one of Omar Khayyam’s quatrains. In this verse, Khayyam alludes to the sorrows and difficulties of our earthly existence. He further suggests that if those who have not yet entered this world were aware of the trials and hardships we face, they would never willingly come into existence. this poem places us in awe when faced with existence. A reverence that extends beyond humanity and encompasses all living beings. Although these statements may appear sharp, forceful, and seemingly pessimistic, they prompt us to seek a better perspective and find a more resilient path to endure life’s challenges.
Pen, Digital Editing, 20*20 CM
Animus
2023
The combination of the words "animal" and "us" gives this collection its name, which is visually represented in these artworks. The realm of animals has always fascinated me not only from a design perspective but also in terms of behavioral traits and diversity among species. It is often said that humans are the only sentient beings, and as Yuval Noah Harari mentions in his book "Sapiens," the only difference that has allowed humans to not only conquer the Earth but also set foot on the moon is the power of imagination and narrative ability that we don't see in animals. This thin line that separates humans from animals, and the pride with which humans consider themselves the pinnacle of creation, exploiting nature for their own use while disregarding other species, has driven me to create this collection.
I believe that humanizing and characterizing animals may be a way to draw attention to them. Turning animals into anthropomorphic characters could potentially evoke a sense of empathy and highlight a different aspect of life that is crucial for the survival and coexistence of various species on Earth. This collection, titled "Animaus," aims to bring attention to this aspect of our world and be a narration for those who cannot narrate.
These artworks were created using Markers and Ink on Cardboard.
Fat Women are fragile
2022
This collection of artworks is a response to the body shaming, which gained traction on social media, and inspired by the book "Hunger" by Roxane Gay, who candidly discusses the challenges faced by overweight women in society based on her personal experiences. My ongoing concern about femininity and the correct definitions of beauty and societal norms pushed me to create a series called " Fat Women are fragile." My primary goal was to portray the resilience of the human spirit, regardless of external appearances or physical attributes.
The experiences shared by the author and my own observations in a society that is progressing but still limping in many aspects compelled me to perhaps illustrate a different narrative of beauty. In this collection, I've depicted women in the nude to fully convey their bodies that have always been concealed by censoring clothing. I aimed to keep the artwork as real as my personal technique allows and avoid the exaggerated beautification that often accompanies discussions of obesity these days.
The juxtaposition of these women's bodies with cardboard emphasizes the visual and thematic paradox between physical weight and fragility of their spirits. The cardboard and boxes, aside from symbolizing the handling of fragile and delicate items, also represent society's attempt to categorize and forcefully fit individuals within predefined frameworks and cultural norms.
These artworks were created using Pencils, Pens, and Watercolors and were later digitally enhanced using Photoshop.
Freelance Illustrations
2020-2022
A selection of some commissioned illustrations I've worked on over various time periods for different clients. Some of them were created for postcards, children's stories, and even poetry, while others were centered around a single word.
Various techniques were chosen and executed for each based on the specific needs of the text or the client's idea, including Watercolor, Acrylic, Metal Printing, Pen and Paper and Digital Methods.
Sketch
2020
These designs are, in fact, snippets from my portfolio of works, which have been created at various times and with different ideas.
Each of them represents a certain aspect of my preferred style, technique, and themes, showcasing the diversity that reflects my constant quest to keep my imagination from stagnation and to preserve its freshness.
Bear it and Be the Bear
2020
My personal fascination with designing and illustrating bears and exploring the figurative form and characters that can be found within bear faces has always been with me, even after my thesis project. It has led to the artworks in this collection and many more. However, the title of this collection, "Bear It and Be the Bear," plays with the word "bear" in English, which can refer to both the animal and the act of enduring. This title inspired the concept of this collection, especially the final piece where we witness the presence and intimacy of a bear and a plump woman.
One of my concerns as an illustrator, who is herself concerned with body weight, is breaking the common stereotypes surrounding beauty and body image imposed by society. Here, through the portrayal of the bear, which in some cultures symbolizes desire, power, and life, I aim to go beyond these themes. I want to use this imagery to not only convey these constructed and imposed norms on women but also play with language to highlight that women too must endure these pressures and judgments. In most cases, they find themselves in the position of the bear, accepting these stereotypes and judgments, often playing both the roles of the victim and the oppressor within this context. I hope that the unconventional and taboo nature of depicting such scenes serves as a wake-up call to society and the viewers.
Digital Etudes
2019
These digital etudes served as exercises to experiment and explore digital execution, which was a departure from the traditional hand-executed etudes. They led to the creation of intriguing techniques and offered opportunities for different approaches to the usual forms of artistry.
Some of these etudes were entirely colored and completed using Photoshop, while others began as hand-drawn illustrations and were later scanned and manipulated in Photoshop, playing with visual elements and adding layers of color. Even in these digital etudes, the connection to my personal attachment to paper and its use is evident!
Wonder Morphs
2018
This character collection was designed with the aim of creating a simple form that could be used for various shapes and diverse themes. The goal was to achieve a flexible form, much like modeling clay, that could be molded and used for creative visual representations. These characters are devoid of gender and age, which was the initial idea behind them, and this lack of restriction in their usage allows for a wide range of applications.
Some of these characters incorporate elements of Iranian and Eastern ornamentation, while others are a blend of entirely modern elements. In either case, they yield satisfactory results, highlighting the adaptability and versatility of these forms in different contexts.
Exhibition \ Inside
2011-2012
This artwork was created for a group exhibition. It began as a hand-drawn illustration, then colors were added using Photoshop, and it was subsequently printed and displayed. The theme of this exhibition aimed to highlight the inner state of the creator of the artwork.
For this piece, I drew inspiration from the poetry of Khayyam. I hand-calligraphed the lines from the poem and incorporated them into the composition. This particular verse, which alludes to the weariness of being deceived by the imagination's power to make life more bearable and real, expresses a form of realism while also hinting at a desire to escape from this reality through intoxication and fantasy. It adds an intriguing and contemplative paradoxical meaning to the poem and the overall human condition it portrays.
Exhibition \ Myself
2011-2012
This artwork currently represents the artist's self and has been created for a group exhibition with the same thematic focus. It is executed on a textured cardboard background that has been manually primed. The artist used a combination of Pencil, Oil Pastel, and Acrylic to create the design.
The dimensions of the artwork are 100x50 centimeters.
