Elisa Sophia Arjomand
Elisa Sophia Arjomand
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Size: 20 x 20 cm
I slid my passport to the officer. A brief glance. He returns it momentarily. One look suffices to reveal my identity. German. Printed there. It must be true?
This work explores the notion of passports offering a definitive statement about identity. My passport states that I am German. But am I soley attached to Germany? My sister and I don’t possess an Iranian passport, however, this doesn’t weaken our bond to the country. Passports are restrictive. But in reality, identity cannot be labeled.
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Size: 59,5 x 59,5 cm
The world is filled with layers of patterns. These construct my inner world. They surround me. I sense them. Why is it that I cannot see them?
This piece explores the struggles of individuals who grow up with multiple cultures. The patterns of the carpet symbolize safety. Contrastingly the darker swirls capture a sense of being lost. The blindfold represents the feeling of being left alone and held back in the dark. Vision is impaired due to cultural uncertainty.
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Size: 49,5 x 49,5 cm
Starved. Exhausted. Hopeless. Traumatized. Forced to leave behind one’s precious country, comforting culture, father, mother, sister … family. Being pushed to flee the terror and misery. 18 years old. I’m miserable. Detached from the world. Disconnected - even from oneself. The experience lasts. It scars one for life. Suppressed stains of memory still creep up from behind, lashing out at one’s heart, mind and senses in a malicious manner.
“Dear Dad, how can I help you carry the weight?”
Medium: Acrylic paint on cardboard
Size: 21 x 30 cm
Sisterhood. It is strong. It is raw. It is misconceived. Yes, we are interlinked for life. The bondthat we share is unmatched. It’s strength is overwhelming, powerful and may distort your view. We have been fused together into a unity. Skin stretching over our faces, pressing our bodies together. We seem the same. However, if you look closely you will recognise the differences that separate us into two individual beings. Our internal thoughts, perceptions … feelings. Just observe closely.
Medium: Photographic work printed on paper
Size: 40 x 53 cm
She is alone with the shadow. It seems to pursue her. Stick to her. Suffocate her. She wants it to leave. Let her find closure. “Leave” she begs, her tone is desperate. “I thought we were friends.” the shadow replies, remaining right beside her.
The shadow suggests multiple cultures. The figure seems to dwell in a continual state of confusion, battling contrasting feelings, as a result of being torn in between two cultures.
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Size: 20 x 20 cm
These canvases resemble a film. They were inspired by a performance art video I created and capture the stages of cultural disorientation (in farsi: سرگردانی†). With every panel the figure falls deeper into her frustrated state.
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Size: 100 x 140 cm
This piece is the beating heart of my exhibition. It displays a fractured sense of self. The figure is trapped by conforming to traditional Persian norms. It seems familiar to her … it seems right.
However, is this who she is? The artwork contains Persian elements like the pomegranate symbolizing immortality. Frustration reaches the surface when she squeezes juice - representing blood - from the fruit. This contrasts immortality, which is eradicated through blood being forced out.
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Size: 49,5 x 49,5 cm
Under my skin: you find the pattern of my life, the culture ingrained within my blood … my wounded self. Cut me open, peel my skin off. I promise you won’t find what you expect. What I feel, my sense of self, my emotions are devoted to a complexity that doesn’t show on the surface. You have to dig deeper, beneath the layers, to find more than a sole illusion.
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Size: 49,5 x 66 cm
Large eyes, pale skin, rosy cheeks…
Is this really her?
Or is it just a perception of who she thinks she is, or ought to be?
Is she looking at something?
No!
Glassy-eyed, expressionless … eternally lost!
Where are you from?
I don’t know.
This piece explores the disorientation of being unable to identify a place of belonging. The viewer is drawn into the painting through the subject’s eyes which capture the notion of being lost. The blank countenance and unfocused gaze underline uncertainty.
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Size: 30 cm x 30 cm
This piece captures a photograph of my young mother. My mother, you may ask? Yes. The resemblance to my sister is uncanny. However, she is a different person. They may have the same gaze, but what they see differs. VISION I builds a deliberate contrast to VISION II.
This exhibition is centred around the interlinking themes of family and culture. As a third-culture kid, I have always struggled with my sense of belonging. It has been challenged throughout my entire life. “Where are you from?” - a seemingly simple question. However, I always hesitate to answer. My parents who are both Iranian, have always reinforced Persian traditions; however, my younger sister and I grew up in Germany, which builds a contrasting environment. This blend of cultures is confusing and leads to a frustrating sense of disorientation that is embodied within my work.
I mainly worked with acrylic paint to represent my cultural situation. Painting patterns helped me convey ideas in an expressive manner. A specific segment of my exhibition also consists of photographic work. Photography was significant in the development of my pieces, as it enabled me to experiment with different elements like lighting, make-up, the incorporation of traditional Persian objects, etc. One photographic piece is displayed within my exhibition. It is a pivotal work that marks peak creative exploration.
I intend viewers to observe my exhibition from left to right, as it accurately depicts the development of my art and how I implemented various ideas within my overarching theme. The first board reflects the contrasting concept between how things are perceived versus their true nature. This is embodied through the minimalistic style of the paintings, which seem to be detached from the rest of the exhibition. They do not reveal much at first glance. However, further observation hopefully allows viewers to conclude that the works are centred around both connections and disconnections within family. “VISION I” is preceded by “VISION II”, as the latter creates a base for the core feelings of my exhibition. It grasps the idea of being lost within one’s cultural identity. The second board drags viewers into a world of red (often tied to the symbolism of blood). These pieces primarily convey the internal conflict that originates due to being confronted with disparate cultures. “My shadow, my friend?” is arranged vertically, creating a sense of rhythm within my exhibition, due to the preceding artworks having the same structure. With every photograph I increased the zoom setting, thus drawing the viewer closer and gradually guiding them through the subject’s mind. The next piece is displayed vertically, for it to be observed like a film. This arrangement creates clear distinctions between stages of cultural disorientation. My key piece “PERSONA” is hung high in the right corner emphasising its scale and dominating nature.
The final board captures the notion of being ejected from a comforting environment which contributes to disconnection. “Blindfolded” expresses detachment powerfully; thus it is displayed first. Black flowing fabric is hung above the painting. This reinforces the contrast between safety and darkness. Despite having a positive association with the black scarf which belonged to my grandmother, it expresses a certain darkness by acting as a veil that impairs vision. It embodies a sense of being lost.
The segment that ties together my exhibition is an installation (in the right corner between the second and third board). It consists of traditional Persian elements including one of my family’s carpets, saffron, a tea set, books etc. which introduce an interactive element, helping viewers visualise Persian culture and its contrast to the surrounding environment. It simulates a traditional Persian seating area, which I reinforced by hanging two of the pieces lower. Viewers are meant to sit down on the carpet to observe part of my art.