The Captivating Works of Zari Etemadi
The creation of Zari Etemadi's current art series, "Distorted Reality," has been a deeply personal journey, exploring symbols of ancient Persian culture embedded in her memories. Through vivid colors, intricate patterns, and imagery from a distant past, she aims to capture a sense of place and identity that feels blurred and distorted by political forces. Inspiration for this series began with Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which celebrates renewal and the arrival of spring. Central to Nowruz is the Haft Sin table, featuring a goldfish bowl—a symbol of life and energy in Persian culture. Captivated by the goldfish’s graceful beauty and vibrant colors, she began reflecting on their world within the glass, a parallel to her feelings of confinement and disconnection from her heritage. This theme grew more personal as she observed her pet goldfish, Aftab, and Mahtab—meaning "The Sun" and "Moonlight." Inspired by their presence, she began creating this series in acrylics, further exploring themes of confinement and perception. Watching their delicate movements made her ponder how they perceive the world beyond their glass—a reflection of her fragmented reality as an Iranian American grappling with the loss of cultural identity. The series is also shaped by the profound impact of witnessing the erosion of Iranian culture since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Coupled with the ongoing struggles faced by Iranian women over the past forty-five years, this experience has left a deep emotional mark on her work. Through her art, she aims to preserve the vibrancy of Persian heritage, offering a tribute to its resilience amid cultural erasure. With rich colors, symbolic patterns, and poetic writing, her art invites viewers to remember a time when Persian gardens flourished and birds sang freely—moments that endure not only as memories but as symbols of joy and hope. In a way, "Distorted Reality" is her attempt to honor the enduring beauty of Persian culture, celebrating its resilience and vitality in the face of change and loss.
