Interview With Artist Marjan Abedian
Congratulations to Marjan Abedian for earning her place as a Finalist in the Boynes Artist Award 11th Edition!
Who are you?
I am Marjan Abedian, an Iranian artist born and residing in Tehran. I have been actively involved in painting for about 23 years. Over the past 15 years, I have also taught drawing and painting, training many students in this field. Although I was interested in painting from childhood, I could not pursue it seriously due to school and later university studies. However, after graduating with a degree in Biology, I decided to fully dedicate myself to learning painting.
In 2001, I joined various informal painting classes, and in 2003, I began studying realistic painting seriously under the guidance of Master Fakhreddin Mokhberi. After 5 years of simultaneous learning, I started teaching painting.Given my deep passion for art, I decided to continue my studies in painting academically. Eventually, I earned a master’s degree in painting from the Tehran University of Art, one of the best universities in Iran. In 2022, I established the Rasam Visual Arts Institute.
Her most important honors are two of her works winning in the international ARC competitions.
“Autumn Memories”
Oil on Canvas
By Marjan Abedian
What inspired you to utilize painting as a medium?
Since childhood, I have been passionate about art and have pursued various artistic activities based on my interests. However, at that time, my primary focus was on studying. After graduating from university with a degree in Biology, I decided to follow my true passion: learning the art of painting. This decision marked the beginning of my journey as a full-time painter. Since then, I have dedicated almost all my time and thoughts to mastering and advancing in this art form.
Sometimes, words and emotions cannot be fully expressed, but through painting, I am able to convey them and connect with my audience. The feeling an artist experiences while creating a piece is beyond description. Painting brings me a deep sense of inner peace, allowing me to manage other aspects of my life with greater ease.
How would you describe your ARTwork?
Since I have always admired the realist paintings of great artists from past centuries, I began my artistic journey with this style and worked to learn realism professionally. After a few years, when I entered art school and became familiar with various styles, I developed a growing interest in surrealism. In the piece that was selected as a finalist, I aimed to create an imaginative and somewhat surreal atmosphere.
I have sought to create an imaginary atmosphere to represent the concept of the desire for liberation. I have imagined a girl suspended on a wall like a puppet, controlled by the hands of another, with no autonomy of her own. Despite this, she continues to dream of freedom. Perhaps one day, she will break free from the grasp of others—like the wooden doll depicted in the image, with torn ropes ropes and hanging from his hands
“Childhood Feeling”
Oil on Canvas
By Marjan Abedian
Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind your winning work?
The inspiration for this piece came from observing the subtle ways in which control and manipulation manifest in our daily lives. I wanted to explore the theme of freedom versus control, using marionette puppets as a metaphor for how individuals can be influenced by external forces. The cracked wall represents the struggle to break free and uncover the hidden realities beneath the surface. My thought process involved reflecting on personal experiences and societal observations, aiming to create a visual representation that encourages viewers to question and reflect on their own lives and the forces that shape them.
“Wishing For Liberation”
Oil on Canvas
By Marjan Abedian
Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating your finalist work?
The intended subject was created by combining several different photographs, which I merged to form a suitable composition. All the photographs were taken by me, and every element you see in the image was photographed separately and then arranged into a cohesive composition. The girl hanging on the wall is an image of my student, whom I specifically photographed in this manner for the subject. After finalizing the composition, I executed it on canvas using the oil painting technique. During the process, I also made changes that I felt would enhance the work, rather than relying solely on the reference photos.
What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?
With this artwork, I aim to communicate the complex themes of control, manipulation, and the struggle for freedom. The marionette puppets symbolize how individuals or society can be influenced by external forces, while the cracked wall represents the breaking free from these constraints and revealing hidden truths. Through this piece, I hope to evoke a sense of introspection and awareness in the audience about the unseen forces that shape our lives and the potential for liberation.
“Symphony in Still Life”
Oil on Canvas
By Marjan Abedian
Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?
Since I started working on surrealistic and realistic subjects, these themes have challenged me more, as they often require making unpredictable changes during the process. I have also learned not to rely solely on the image of my intended subject throughout the process. Sometimes, I trust the inspirations that come to me while working, which allows me to create significant transformations in my work.
Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?
One of the most significant successes since the beginning of my artistic journey was winning second place in the portrait category at the 15th International Art Renewal Center (ARC) competition with one of my works titled Daapir.
I consider this a significant achievement because, in an international competition with many talented artists, I secured second place. I achieved this success in 2021, and in the same year, my winning artwork was selected for Sotheby’s online auction and was sold. Additionally, 28 artworks were chosen for Sotheby’s online auction, and my artwork was among them. This was a great honor for me, as Sotheby’s is one of the most prestigious and oldest auction houses in the world. Another success of mine was winning one of my works at the 16th International ARC Salon Competition in the US.
“Daapir”
Oil on Canvas
By Marjan Abedian
Can you give us the best piece of advice you have ever heard/received?
The best piece of advice I received from one of my masters was: “Try to work in an artistic environment where the people are either more skilled than you or at least at your level.” Because it is in this kind of environment that the path to growth and progress will be open to you.
As a finalist, do you have any advice for artists who want to apply for awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?
My advice as a finalist is to definitely participate in competitions, residencies, and similar opportunities. Winning or losing is not the most important thing; what matters is being active and engaged in these programs. This way, your artwork gets exposed to a wider audience, and you have the chance to interact with talented artists from around the world, which leads to growth and keeps you current in your practice.
“Release”
Oil on Canvas
By Marjan Abedian
What projects are you working on currently? Can you discuss them?
I have recently been working on a project titled "In the Wishing of Liberation", attempting to convey this concept within a surrealistic framework. Several artworks from this collection have already been completed, while the rest are still in progress. My selected piece is also part of this collection. A puppet is a recurring element that appears in almost all the works in the series.
What is your dream project or piece that you hope to accomplish?
I am an artist who has created more in the style of realism, imaginative realism, and then in the style of surrealism. Moving forward, I am eager to explore new works in a contemporary context, either by blending different styles or by pursuing purely imaginative approaches
“Contemplation”
Black Conte & White Chalk on Paper
By Marjan Abedian
Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists, what is your advice?
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received, and the advice I would give to my fellow artists, is: “Don’t wait for the perfect moment, create it.”
As artists, it’s easy to fall into the trap of waiting for ideal conditions—whether it’s perfect inspiration, the right time, or the perfect resources. However, I’ve learned that creativity and growth come from taking action, even when everything isn’t ideal. Don’t wait for things to fall into place—create the space for your art to thrive by working consistently, experimenting, and pushing yourself. By doing so, you open up new possibilities, improve your skills, and achieve things you might not have imagined. The process is as important as the outcome, and every step you take is progress.
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