In Creating Objects

Handcrafts for centuries have been the heart of the creative domain in societies; bringing art close to the community not only as an imaginative practice, but also as economical means and activities for social experiences. Independent curator and art educator Fereshte Moosavi explores the notion of art object in its materiality, and the essence of craftsmanship in the works of two compelling contemporary Iranian artists Farhad Ahrarnia and Hossein Valamensh. While undertaking publication as a form of an exhibiting platform, the selected works and texts offer a complex interconnectivity with the humble 'matter' which works as a vessel that belongs to the register of the imaginary. Farhad Ahrarnia's Khatam-Kari (Persian marquetry), handmade carpets, collages of everyday objects embellished by Tazhib delve into a dual experience between modern life and traditional craftsmanship. Hossein Valamanesh's use of material such as branches, leaves, earth and fire delineates a kind of return to t