The Painter on the Street

Understanding Tehran

Outside the studio, I paint en plein air throughout Tehran. As an immigrant arriving in the capital of Iran, I leaned towards painting my surroundings by using representation to understand, connect and, at times, conquer the unknown dynamics and underlying relations of a congested and hectic urban center.

Under Construction Oil color on Canvas 70x30cm

Tree in Kargar St Oil color on Canvas 60x30cm

Impersonating a Masterful Painter

Ibn Baboo-e Graveyard, Oil Color on Canvas, 30×30 cm

Walking on these noisy sidewalks and exposed to rushed pedestrians, I set up my easel, canvas, and oil color palette, impersonating a masterful painter, to explore my socioeconomic position as an artist in the urban fabric of Tehran through the eyes of non-experts.

Sain Serkis Cathedral (Night), Oil color on canvas, 45x55cm

Sain Serkis Cathedral (Day), Oil color on canvas, 30x40cm

Construction Site in Keshavarz St., Oil Color on Canvas, 80x100cm

Deconstruction in Tehran, Oil Color on Wood, 40x30cm

Navabi House Ruin, Oil color on wood, 30x40cm

Construction Site, Oil on Canvas, 30x60cm

I navigated the city and social customs over the act of painting (i.e., alla prima) to initiate an intimate relationship with local passersby who would spend time observing my process and questioning the story of my work.

Imam Ali Highway, Oil color on canvas, 24x30cm

Passenger Bridge, Oil color on canvas, 24x30cm

Ghele Abkooh1, Oil color on wood, 30x40cm

Drawing of a bridge, Journal page, Ink on paper, 20x30cm

Newsstand, Journal page, Ink and graphite on paper, 30x20cm

Trrafic Lights, Journal page, Ink and graphite on paper, 30x20cm

Wiped-out Painting, Wiped out oil color on canvas, 35x45cm

Eghtesad Novin Bank, Oil color on Canvas, 30x50cm

Pars Flowershop, Oil color on Canvas, 24x30cm

DeadEnd in SangelajOil color on Canvas40x60cm

Shadow in Sweage Canal Oil on Canvas 30x40cm

Shadow on Snowy Ground Oil on Canvas 40x30cm

Painter on the Street (Short Documentary)

Here is the short documentary I mentioned above. It delineates how I painted on Keshavarz Boulevard and how people interacted with me. My method of painting evolved later. I got more skillful and chose different subjects. I would love to paint on the streets again in the future when I am more experienced and have a deeper understanding of the city.

Street Weeds

I paint plants figuratively in multiple observational sessions to find myself plural with human and non-human surroundings. The singular plants, at times weeds growing out of concrete and on the sidewalks, are my stand-in.