Santa Fe, NM
Joonzi
About the Artist
I was born in Tehran, Iran in 1958 into a family that had a passion and love for their country and culture. They were well traveled, internationally educated and were contributors to the preservation and advancement of Iran in the 20th and 21st centuries. In her memoir “A Mirror Garden”, my mother, Monir Shahroudi Farmanfarmaian, beautifully describes her life as a modern Iranian artist.
International and local travel brings inspiration to me. A leisurely stroll in the galleries of the Prado Museum or a scurry at a local bazaar captures my focus as I gaze on the colors and textures displayed. Stopping at the weavers booth and watching his or her hands working
the loom brings me enchantment with the creative process. Further down the byways of the bazaar I see clay being formed on a pottery wheel. I smell the smoke from the kooreh (kiln) awakening my senses. Another aroma prompts the purchase of a koloocheh (date and walnut pastry seasoned with cardamom) fresh from the oven, sold to sustain myself and other intrepid shoppers.
I collect mental snapshots on my journeys, and acquire fabrics, threads, yarns and trinkets. ‘Recycled’ items from my daily life add shine, character, and a unique quality to my creations. Assemblage, collage and puzzle solving are used in the design of the modern chadors, quilts, table dressings and ornaments. I begin the envisioning process from the bundles of goods collected and conceptualize the layout of the next creation, welcoming the gift of serendipity.
The landscapes and climate of New Mexico are very similar to the distant memories of my childhood in Iran. My memories are now held in my heart and home in an east side casa and studio in Santa Fe, NM. My compound provides light, space and opportunity to create my art.