The last painting exhibition of Mitra Eslami titled “Deep Sleep” is underway at the Idea Gallery in Tehran. Launched on September 13, the exhibition will continue until September 28.

Born in 1989 in Tehran, Eslami held his first solo exhibition “Ascension” in 2009. She went to university in 2015. When she was studying in the undergraduate course, some of her works were displayed in an exhibition titled “Chastity” in the Iranian Art Gallery. In 2022, Eslami received her M.A. degree in painting from the University of Tehran.

One of the important interests of Eslami is the study and research in the field of mythology, and the results of her studies can be seen in the different periods and sections of her works. Between 2017 and 2022, she worked on three collections of “Everyday‌ Dying”, “Deep Sleep,” and “Mythology,” and participated in joint exhibitions between Iranian and Turkish artists. In addition to painting, Eslami is also active in the field of performance art.

We had an interview with the artist on the occasion of the launch of “Deep Sleep” exhibition.

Speaking about the idea of ​​creating this collection, she said: “The idea came from my previous collection ‘Everyday Dying,’ in which I depicted the multifaceted nature of the world with the difference that space played the main role in my paintings. But in this collection, elements and specially humans have been prioritized”.

“The collection you see now is the result of the troubles of today's life. This outward calmness, turbulent and restless inside of humans, minds that have fallen asleep and are involved in daily routines and oblivious to the essence of life are the signs of the lifestyle of our current age. The paradox between peace and worry comes from the mental states and the atmosphere that governs the human soul, from the unrest and worries in our modern life. In fact, the basic elements in the works of the ‘Deep Sleep’ collection are signs to create similar meanings in the mind of the audience, although the audience will face the works of this collection based on their intellectual backgrounds,” she added.

Pointing out that the position of the artist is not separate from the audience, Eslami said: “One of the main duties of the painter is to see the troubles of human society and portray them. What preoccupies my mind is the afflictions of man today. But the elements used in my works are completely personal choices and most of the time they are adapted from my own life”.

Referring to the elements of "cat" and "book" in the “Deep Sleep” collection she said: “In Japanese and Chinese mythology, the cat is a symbol of peace and friendship and protection from evil spirits. Therefore, the cat has the ability to communicate with other worlds and also plays the role of a watcher and protector. In this collection, which depicts the multifaceted space and the feeling of being suspended in space, cats and one-eyed creatures are the superior observers of the world in today's human life. However, the books, which are flying with drawings from the designs of the collection ‘mythology’ on their covers, are signs of consciousness that are present in space in a fluid form. The connection between books and mobile phones and handsfrees is the interaction of knowledge between scientific books and technology, both of which are present in our lives today”.

“After humans, trees and ivy plants play an important role in this collection. They rule the whole space and elements in the works of this collection. Nature is an inseparable and undeniable part of human life and plays an important role in the life of all human beings. Nature is our greatest teacher, which is full of mystery within itself and ultimately amazing beauty. One of the most powerful and mysterious symbols in nature is the tree, which I have sometimes combined with the stature and shape of a human (inspired by mythology) and with living and sometimes dry branches that cover the entire space. Most of the time, when a person is looking for peace, he takes refuge in the nature to be safe from the hustle and bustle of city life and nature is a substitute for human life. If this reference is accompanied by awareness, this beautiful and peaceful nature provides many valuable lessons and tips for humans. The trees intertwined with the elements suggest the presence of awareness alongside neglect and human’s deep sleep,” she concluded.