- Artist in Residence Programme at Salzamt Linz / Austria / September 2016
Based on my artistic activities, projects, and exhibitions, I submitted a proposal for an art residency at Salzamt in Linz, Austria. After being selected, I spent three weeks working in my studio at the Salzamt residency.
At the beginning of the residency, I focused mainly on exploring the city, its nature, culture, and atmosphere. I walked through the streets, observed the surroundings, and allowed myself time to absorb the environment. During those first days, I was not yet sure what direction my work in the studio would take.
One day, while visiting a shop, I discovered several plexiglass bubbles. Because bubbles have been a recurring element in my artworks, I bought them in different sizes. At that moment, I still didn’t know exactly how I would use them.
Later, while standing in front of the beautiful view from my studio, looking out at the Danube River, the blue sky, and the clouds, I suddenly imagined these bubbles floating in the sky. The idea appeared in my mind for only a moment and then disappeared, but I kept it in mind, curious to see where it might lead.
A few days later, I traveled to Vienna. Immersed in the city’s historical atmosphere, I became fascinated by its urban sculptures, monuments, and architecture. The historical figures and visual language of these statues reminded me of characters I had seen in old Iranian lithographed books. This unexpected connection between Austrian history and my own cultural background inspired me deeply.
I began photographing historical elements everywhere, from street monuments to museum collections. When I returned to my studio in Linz, these images became the starting point for my new project.
You can see part of the process of this work here.
After returning to Tehran, I continued developing the project for several months. Eventually, the works were presented in my solo exhibition titled “Till This Way.”