ARTIST STATEMENT
In our interconnected world, each visual language arises from personal narratives, molded by introspection, self-discovery, and our understanding of ourselves within our surroundings and through the perspectives of others. I’ve been expressing my lived experiences ever since I realized that materials could serve as a mode of visual expression. My experiences have been diverse and influenced by economic, climate-related, social, cultural, and political facets. These have propelled me to unveil the depths of my identity and the interplay with the environment, incorporating elements from psychology and sociology. I aim to understand how laws, traditions, and ideologies influence human worth. Perceive the dynamics between power and society as shaping attitudes that perpetuate injustices across genders and beyond. Observing my environment provides insights into how societal ignorance impacts the valuation of minorities, women, animals, and nature. Through my art, I aim to illustrate how to reveal my deepest emotions about experiences of being disregarded. These feelings often lead to isolation and stigmatization within social norms as signs of failure. My emotional spectrum is intricately linked to the interconnected perceptions of daily life, compelling me to convey messages through nonverbal dialogues based on the concept of suppression. I’ve observed that our interactions with nature are often influenced by the prevailing mistreatment and violence within modern societies. These societal dynamics tend to fragment individuals, causing them to overlook their interconnectedness.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Nina was born in 1988 and raised in northern Iran among an ethnic group of Gilaki-speaking natives in Gillan’s province, which practiced agriculture and art. Nina studied as an agricultural engineer in Gilan and worked on farms in Iran and Canada. Nina is currently a third-year MFA student and Graduate Assistant at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, specializing in Studio Art since 2022. Selected as a Presidential Fellow, their research focuses on conceptual strength. It emphasizes the intersection of art with culture, politics, and its impact on the environment to understand how power structure perceives human value in the modern era. Apart from painting and sculpting, Nina conceptualizes their body as a medium for performance art, seeking to foster interactions between art and society. Nina’s artistic endeavors have garnered international and national recognition, with exhibitions spanning Turkey, France, Italy, Canada, London, the US, and Iran. Nina is currently in an interview with the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), with their work published by Yale Press. Their achievements were also recognized with a nomination at the graduate school ceremony. During their two years in America, Nina received scholarships from the Penland School of Craft, Petters Valley School, Center for Metal Art, and John C. Folk School.
© Nina Rastgar