Village - Abyaneh (Original SOLD | Prints Available)

Some paintings in this series challenged me more than others, but this particular piece holds the essence of all the stories in this exhibition. The idea came from an image of a woman in Abyaneh, which inspired me to bring together various cultural elements into one composition, traditional Persian knockers, pottery, lattice windows, the places where neighbours sit and chat, and the sound of water flowing in the courtyard, the scent often surrounded by geraniums it all reflecting the essence of this historic village.

Abyaneh, one of Iran’s oldest villages, has a history spanning over 4,500 years. Known for its iconic red-clay houses, wooden lattice windows, and intricately carved doors, the village has preserved its traditions for centuries. Women wear colorful floral dresses with white headscarves, and the ancient Abyaneh dialect, dating back to the Sassanid era, is still spoken today.

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Abyaneh, and that experience gave me a deeper connection to its beauty and traditions. Walking through its narrow alleys and seeing its architectural wonders first-hand helped me use my imagination to create this piece from the heart, as a tribute to the people of Abyaneh and their rich heritage.

Creating this painting was a significant challenge. I used references from multiple images to reconstruct the scene, and some elements required deep experimentation. The four small lattice windows, for example, took time to perfect, I had to find a way to carve them while maintaining a realistic brick-like texture. The balcony lights, the 3D depth of the canvas, and the sculptural element of the woman in traditional dress all pushed me to refine my techniques further.

This painting took five months to complete, but for me, the result is always more important than the time it takes. I constantly seek new challenges in my work because I never want to repeat myself, each new challenge adds to my skills and artistic growth.