Farhad Ahrarnia b. 1971
Desert Flower/Desert Snow, After Matisse, 2022
Hand embroidery on camouflage fabric
38 x 38 cm
15 x 15 in
15 x 15 in
Courtesy of the Artist and Lawrie Shabibi
Farhad Ahrarnia’s Desert Flower/Desert Snow, After Matisse is a series of embroidered flower and leaf motifs on various camouflage textiles. By moving away from the representations of orientalism and exploring...
Farhad Ahrarnia’s Desert Flower/Desert Snow, After Matisse is a series of embroidered flower and leaf motifs on various camouflage textiles. By moving away from the representations of orientalism and exploring how cultures and events in history influencing each other in very covert ways, he delves further into his exploration of the principles of Modernism and how they become articulated. Ahrarnia’s observations of the shapes depicted in camouflage patterns reminded him of those in Henri Matisse's cut-outs. Ahrarnia, however, appreciates the interaction between method and background: while Matisse "carved into colour" with his cut-outs, in this instance Ahrarnia creates reliefs by embossing the patterned military fabric with brightly coloured stitching. Similarly though, he aims to transform the language of conflict into the language of peace and playfulness.