Mahsa Tehrani's Surreal Iranian Landscapes Explore Memory, Extinction, and Persian Miniature Traditions

Mahsa Tehrani creates paintings that transform Iranian landscapes into surreal, symbolic spaces rooted in personal reflection and nostalgia. Her work frequently features the Zagros and Alborz Mountain ranges surrounding Tehran, blending familiar scenes with oversized porcelain figures and animals to create tension between beauty and discomfort. Tehrani uses white for figures' dresses to give them a universal, timeless quality, creating striking contrast with vibrant greenery. She draws inspiration from Persian miniature painting techniques, particularly the concept of 'narrow sky' that creates intimacy with the environment, and aims to depict multiple scenes simultaneously. The artist incorporates classical elements like blue-and-white porcelain vases to foster shared recognition with viewers. A significant theme involves animals facing extinction, influenced by conservationists like Seyed Bagheri Mousavi, with Tehrani drawing parallels between their struggles and human challenges. Her 2023 painting 'A Land of Magnets and Miracles' exemplifies her approach with white-clad figures and statue-like forms. Tehrani describes painting as her language to connect emotionally with audiences and create shared understanding of collective human experience. The interview originally appeared in Canvas 115: On the Wild Side.