Despite the fact that certain names are repeated, life in all creation is contingent upon a whole host of active, impactful creatures which are invisible. No matter what species they are, they exist as equals but at a certain point, humans stood aside and branched off. They rose above others to a different level, stood on a place of authority, and called everything else “nature.” In return, nature did not sit around and regrouped as a silent army, self-sufficient and independent of humanity. She developed a secret but vital power for herself and went so far that it became impossible for others to live without her. Living creatures realized that coexistence is the only way to go if they are to survive. They are astonishingly diverse, but in similar positions, all on the same plane. There are no exceptions and no rectors. They don’t give monologs, but know how to sing choruses. Overshadowing is meaningless; all stand together as equals. In this series, Raheleh Nooravar reminds us that we are all in it together, living in one world, in basically the same way.

The works of the series have the tendency to move, expand, and be scattered in the space. It is as if these frozen creatures prefer to determine a wider territory as art objects. As a result, new conditions are created that are not only fixed and limited, but are constantly changing and expanding. On the other hand, the holes and netted surfaces of the sculptures make the space flow in the inner layers of each work. Along with the air, the audience’s gaze also penetrates the work. There is nothing to hide here: only the desire to be revealed, to the extent that in the shell you can even find traces of elegance and femininity. Thus, there is no definite boundary between the work and the setting in the constant breathing of the sculptures. At any moment, there is the possibility of the statue being disintegrated in space and taking over a new sphere. In other words, the living creature and its avatar are both learning and practicing, and are also ready to enter and become one with their community.

In her years of artistic activity, Raheleh Nooravar has worked with two key elements of observation and repetition. In her recent works, she represents and repeats a species of algae, which has infinite variety in shape and size, magnified in different shapes, materials, and positions. This time, however, in addition to repetition, Raheleh, in terms of interfering in the world of these beings, goes so far as to aiming at the nature of their relationships rather than their prototypical morphologies. The way the works are arranged and the exhibition space itself emphasize that intention as well. The algae mirror the multiplication of already repeated forms and mediate the return of artificial organisms to their natural environment. Yet, the color, material, and visual quality of the works constantly remind us of their distance from nature. From another point of view, the series expands its own territory and the artist’s world through different conceptual references, while being rooted in a natural element. Out of a living being comes an inanimate object. The intermediary position of the series is a demonstration of the possibility of coexistence between humans and nature, as well as the chosen ones and the masses.

Akram Ahmadi Tavana