I was born in south-eastern Iran in 1970 and grew up in the Far East and Africa. When I was a child, my family emigrated to the Philippines and later moved to Nigeria, where in 1982 we became stateless, having been refused new passports by the Iranian embassy because of our Baha’i religion. We moved to Canada as refugees in 1983. I later studied architecture at Carleton University in Ottawa.
I then spent 15 years working as an architect in Hong Kong and in London, while painting in my spare time. I made paintings I call ‘abstract landscapes’, some of which are compositions made up of elements of the city or spaces and places. The last abstract landscape of this genre was completed in 2003, right before I left Hong Kong for the last time.
I have come to realise that being an architect for so many years has given me certain tendencies as an artist, for example being idea-driven rather than material-driven. I approach each painting as a project with a driving concept or question and success for me is measured by how well the question comes across and begins to generate conversation. Also, I will try any material within my capability, depending on how it serves the concept. Perhaps this will change as I grow further and further from my architectural roots, I can’t tell. I am not concerned with the commercial aspect of art – to me, money is the great anathema to the creative urge. I create because it re-balances the internal instability caused by being caught between two cultures, but only temporarily. So it’s possible that someone looking across my art will find a wide visual variety tied together by a common, but subtle narrative.
Since 2009 I have given more time to painting but at the same time my focus has shifted – I reflect and study more systematically, and I see my art as both generator and product. I am also dabbling in writing and illustrating. Issues surrounding justice have loomed large for me since 2009, as have more personal, spiritual themes. I hope that through sharing my work I can also share the joy of learning and discovery.
Rosita Niknafs
Email: thisevanescentsoul@gmail[dot]com
October 31, 2011 at 4:00 pm
It is so beautiful and wonderful to see the result of your work as an illumined artist. Your moto is so close to my heart. I enjoyed your exhibition on line and wish you the best of all in your endeavour.