Azra Aghighi Bakhshayeshi (b.1968, Iran)
"When viewers do not understand the meaning they are not reading the letters. I am looking for viewers who are seeing and not reading. These writings are whispers in my mind that do not mean too much, like a meditation. Sometimes they could be poetry, prayers, or just a conversation. I am not trying to convey spirituality with my writings. Speaking only one language creates a barrier between me and the viewer if they do not speak the same language. I am hoping to reach out to a broader audience with my art as a universal message."
While Aghighi is inspired by religion (especially early Islamic writings), the heart of her practice is not religious: “it is not my intention to pass [my religious inspirations] on to the viewer. I think my religious feelings in my work reveal my inner feelings. For me, these are very personal. I am delighted viewers appreciate my work and hope they can see that it is a contemporary artistic work. I am trying to show the viewer that my artistic inspiration continues to be part of a rich heritage from the golden treasure of Middle Eastern culture.” Although there are more than 1,500 women calligraphers in Iran, Aghighi’s art is unique; she is a pioneer among women in the exploration of the potentialities of calligraphy as visual art. As she explains, “I sadly realized that I am the only professional calligraphic woman artist in Iran. I do not claim my works are unique but can say that I am the first woman using conceptual calligraphic writing as an art form.”
artworks in collection
Shahriar Ahmadi
—b.1979, Iran
3 WorksShahriar Ahmadi
Farhad Moshiri
—b. 1963, Iran
1 WorkFarhad Moshiri
Bita Vakili
—b.1973, Iran
1 WorkBita Vakili
Shahriar Ahmadi
—b.1979, Iran
3 WorksShahriar Ahmadi
Halim Al Karim
—b.1963, Iraq
1 WorkHalim Al Karim
Aziz & Cucher
—Established 1992, USA
1 WorkAziz & Cucher
Ilit Azoulay
—b.1972, Israel
1 WorkIlit Azoulay
Anat Betzer
—b.1965, Israel
1 WorkAnat Betzer
Oren Eliav
—b.1975, Israel
6 WorksOren Eliav
Stelios Faitakis
—b.1976, Greece
2 WorksStelios Faitakis
Khaled Hafez
—b.1963, Egypt
1 WorkKhaled Hafez
Shay Id Alony
—b.1979, Israel
1 WorkShay Id Alony
Sigalit Landau
—b.1969, Israel
8 WorksSigalit Landau
Ohad Meromi
—b.1967, Israel
1 WorkOhad Meromi
Farhad Moshiri
—b. 1963, Iran
1 WorkFarhad Moshiri
Youssef Nabil
—b.1972, Egypt
1 WorkYoussef Nabil
Uri Nir
—b.1976, Israel
2 WorksUri Nir
Michal Rovner
—b.1957, Israel
3 WorksMichal Rovner
Yehudit Sasportas
—b.1969, Israel
3 WorksYehudit Sasportas
Wael Shawky
—b.1971, Egypt
1 WorkWael Shawky
Eliezer Sonnenschein
—b.1967, Israel
2 WorksEliezer Sonnenschein
Sadegh Tirafkan
—b.1965, Iraq
3 WorksSadegh Tirafkan
Bita Vakili
—b.1973, Iran
1 WorkBita Vakili
Amon Yariv
—b.1975, Israel
3 WorksAmon Yariv
Nevet Yitzhak
—b.1975, Israel
1 WorkNevet Yitzhak
Maya Zack
—b.1976, Israel
4 WorksMaya Zack