Orkideh Torabi: "Blurring Boundaries: A Theatrical Journey Through Cultural Identity"

Inspired by traditional Persian miniature paintings, this large-scale depicts the rooms a vividly-detailed bathhouse in a split-scene style, filled with illustrations of men.
Speaker: 
Orkideh Torabi, artist
Event Date: 
September 26, 2023
Event Time: 
5:30pm to 7:00pm
Location: 
Rackham Amphitheatre
Event Tags: 
cosponsored event
arts & resistance theme semester
art
artists
humanities
Inspired by traditional Persian miniature paintings, this large-scale depicts the rooms a vividly-detailed bathhouse in a split-scene style, filled with illustrations of men.

 

Iranian artist Orkideh Torabi’s work is a captivating exploration of the intersection of personal narratives, cultural heritage, and societal norms. Through her vibrant and intricate paintings, Torabi challenges traditional notions of femininity, power dynamics, and identity. Her unique artistic style blends elements of Persian miniature painting with contemporary imagery, blurring the boundaries between the past and the present.

Drawing inspiration from her Iranian heritage, Torabi explores themes of cultural identity, diaspora, and the tension between tradition and modernity. In her artistic practice, she embraces the role of a storyteller, recognizing the integral role that narration plays in her paintings. For her, the canvas becomes a stage, and her paintings take on the essence of a captivating play or theatrical scene, with these characters serving as the ensemble cast, each playing their distinct role.

Torabi obtained her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in graphic design and illustration from the University of Art in Tehran and served as a faculty member there before making the decision to relocate to the United States. In pursuit of this goal, she completed her second MFA degree in 2016 at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Presently, Torabi resides and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Torabi’s work has been featured in publications such as the Los Angeles Times, Juxtapoz, Hyperallergic, and Chicago Reader Magazine, showcased her works through various solo exhibitions and group shows including Nino Mier Gallery in Germany, Richard Heller in Los Angeles, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA), Chicago Cultural Center, Nino Mier Gallery in Los Angeles, Fredericks & Freiser in New York, and Spurs Gallery in China, among others.

Presented by the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, the Institute for the Humanities, and the Arts Initiative, with cosponsorship from IRWG.

There will be a reception hosted by the Institute for the Humanities following the public talk. More details available on the Institute for the Humanities website.