Interview With Artist Leila Delfan
Congratulations to Leila Delfan for earning her place as a Winner in the Boynes Monthly Art Award August 2024 Edition!
Who are you?
I am a public and visual artist who works with various media. In my practice, I use sculpture, mixed media, and critical concepts to explore the interaction between people and public spaces. Growing up in an environment filled with social and cultural challenges led me to use art as a tool to express both personal and public experiences. For me, creating art goes beyond making objects—it's about creating shared experiences with the audience.
What inspired you to utilize public and visual art as a medium?
Public and visual art allows me to connect with audiences in public spaces and spark conversations that often don't happen in private ones. This type of art can embed messages directly into people's everyday lives, making it accessible to all. I believe deeply in the power of this form of art; it’s not just beautiful, but thought-provoking and impactful.
How would you describe your ARTwork?
My artwork is a blend of abstraction and social critique. I like using everyday objects and natural elements alongside innovative techniques to give my work multiple layers of meaning. My themes often revolve around power, identity, and social tensions.
Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind your winning work?
My winning piece, “Ganymede” from the "Delusional Banana" collection, reflects one of the most intricate and symbolic mythological stories from Greek mythology. In this piece, I used intertwined bananas to symbolize the physical and spiritual relationship between Ganymede and Zeus. The banana peel’s texture represents the complexities and inner conflicts within this relationship, while also serving as a critique of power dynamics in mythological and modern contexts.
Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating your winning work?
The work was created using mixed media techniques. I started with digital modeling to design the form of the bananas. Then, I used composite materials to build the final structure, finishing it with the iconic yellow color and branded banana stickers. My goal was to evoke a sense of both liveliness and absurdity in the piece.
What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?
My main message is to encourage a critical view of power structures, identities, and social systems. I want my audience to question and reflect on their personal and societal experiences. My work strives to show that even in the most mundane objects, there is a reflection of human and social complexities.
Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?
One of the biggest lessons I learned was the importance of flexibility when working with materials and techniques. Initially, I had difficulties shaping the bananas properly and had to adapt several times. This process taught me that even in failures, there are valuable lessons that help push the work forward.
Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?
My biggest success has been creating over fifty large-scale murals across my country. Each mural carries a deep meaning and reflects significant social, cultural, and political issues. These murals have become landmarks in public spaces, engaging with audiences directly and raising important questions about identity, resistance, and social change.
Can you give us the best piece of advice you have ever heard/received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is that “art must come from within you.” I’ve learned that art is only meaningful and lasting when it stems from the artist’s genuine feelings and experiences, not from trying to follow trends or meet others' expectations.
As a winner, do you have any advice for artists who want to apply for awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?
My advice is to never shy away from your unique personal experiences. Don’t try to imitate others; always present your work with honesty and without fear of judgment. Failures are part of the path to success.
What projects are you working on currently? Can you discuss them?
I’m currently working on a project titled “Nightmare”. This piece uses ceramic techniques and is inspired by the tragic events that happened to women in Iran a few years ago. The project explores the psychological and social impacts of those events, aiming to reflect the suppressed emotions and collective pain.
What is your dream project or piece that you hope to accomplish?
My dream is to create a large-scale public art installation that can directly interact with people in public spaces. I want this work to not only be visually striking but also encourage audiences to reflect on social and human issues.
Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists, what is your advice?
My advice is to never stop exploring and questioning. Art is a dynamic process, and only by being curious and creative can you push the boundaries and reach new heights in your practice.
To view more of Leila Delfan