Q & A
1. What is your ‘Sanctified’ exhibition about?
I wanted to create beautiful art to celebrate religious, mythical, mystical and pagan beings. A lot of people think Christian Saints are antithetical to witchcraft or paganism but I disagree, there is a long history of witches calling upon the Saints for help in spells. In my exhibition I have included my renditions of Catholic Saints as well as non-Christian goddesses like Yemanya. I have also created ten works which merge the archetypes of Saints and Goddesses with contemporary pop stars.
2. Did you have a religious upbringing?
In my early years I was raised Baha’i which is an Iranian religion was terribly persecuted under the current regime in Iran. That said I wasn’t raised Baha’i in the strictest sense and didn’t declare myself a member of the religion at the age of 16 which is when you can do it if you want to. My Mum has always been very spiritual and that has influenced me and led to my interest in pagan spirituality and mysticism.
3. Do you think art can be blasphemous, or should it be exempt?
I would never want my own art to be seen as blasphemous, that is never my intention, but I’m sure some people might see some of the images I create that way (though id be surprised if anyone found the images in this exhibition blasphemous.) But my feeling about blasphemy is that if certain Spirits are offended they can make their displeasure known and they don’t really need human beings or institutions interfering or trying to police or censor other humans’ activities or forms of worship.
4. Why did you decide to make pop stars into saints?
I do believe the world of pop culture is the sort of modern mythology we have today, where certain mythic archetypes re-emerge from the collective unconscious in a new, pop form, and I wanted to explore that in the “pop goddess” artworks. That said I don’t think a lot of pop culture figures nowadays should especially be looked up to.
5. How did physically make the artwork?
I draw each artwork free hand using simple materials, pencils and inexpensive paper, then I scan them into my computer and use Photoshop to add colours.
6. How did you choose each of the saints?
I just did it pretty organically, just whichever Saints that I was reading about whose stories and imagery I felt drawn to. In the images of the pop goddesses I chose deities and spirits who I felt had a resonance with the symbolic meanings of the pop star I was choosing in some way or another.
7. Do any of the saints in your exhibition have a personal resonance?
Mother Mary does especially, I talk to her a lot.
8. Can atheists be Saints?
If you think of a Saint as someone who has a lot of faith and performs benevolent works and miracles I guess someone doesn’t believe in God could still do many of those things, I guess it depends on what you think of as good works and what you think of as a miracle.
9. If you could make someone a saint today, who would it be?
Greta Thunberg for bringing attention to the climate crisis and not falling into line with what is expected from a young woman at that age. She reminds me of Joan of Arc. Actually maybe that’s how I should draw her.
10. What would you like people to take away from your exhibition?
Maybe to think about the role that spirituality plays in their own lives, in pop culture, but also in terms of a personal spirituality. What do we believe in and who do we look to for comfort and strength, which I think we all need? Who do we look to, to be role models and lead the way through life and its difficulties, and are we always looking in the right place?
