Afnan works with paper on an intimate scale to create works of refined beauty. Inspired by predominantly archeology and script, her works allude to ancient scrolls and tablets. Yet, at other times, her abstract works appear as landscapes, figures or relics that have been excavated from a long-forgotten site. Using muted hues and earthy colors, her mesmerizing layers and overlapping patterns leave a sense of what it means to live in other times and in different places. Although influenced by the traditional art forms of her own heritage (Persian miniatures, calligraphic texts and ancient manuscripts from the Near East) her Western education has caused her to looks towards artists such as Klee, Rothko and Pollock. In this regard her work absorbs and transcends any direct cultural references creating her own unique language.

https://www.lawrieshabibi.com/artists/142-maliheh-afnan/overview/