Katayoun Bahrami
Time, 2019
Cotton tapestry woven on the floor loom 8”x 180”
Sure, here is the corrected version of your text: --- It represents the timeline of the life of a woman immigrant, with all the scars and shines on her body indicating the ups and downs of her journey and the moments she misses being far away from her loved ones. The purple hand-dyed fabric symbolizes rebirth and revisiting the beautiful memories along the way.
Katayoun Bahrami
Borage, 2019
Deconstructed screen print on cotton, Hand woven on floor loom 8”x 216”
Katayoun Bahrami
Woman, Life, Freedom, 2022
Hand weaved on a jacquard loom 23"x27"
Through the creation of this artwork, I am able to visually portray my traumatized self and demonstrate how I dealt with the forced hijab. Being born and raised under the Islamic Republic regime, I have seen women wearing hijabs since I opened my eyes, at least in public places, and I have had to cover myself with my first signs of femininity. This project demonstrates the stark contrast between my two distinct experiences—with and without choice. The background is a well-known Iranian painting style called "Gol o Morgh," which ended up being used for the cover of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam.
Katayoun Bahrami
The Weight of The Wall, 2022
Crochet forty 4"x2"x8" cement bricks with cotton and metallic yarn, Dried Borage Vary
The ‘Weight of the Wall’ conceptualizes connecting the present and the past. Containing references of profound cultural and political significance, it includes the suffering of exile and separation, the longing for home, the confinement of the female body, and violence through suppression. The pile of cement bricks suggests a wall that draws the borders between the inside and outside. But this wall has fallen. It has been defined as creating a sense of interchangeably crossing from one world to another. Heavily weighted cement bricks with sharp edges shrouded with crochet describe the agony of being a woman in an oppressive society and being exiled from one’s family, and that hope keeps us going. In the process, I developed a sense of weight and suspension. This piece portrays what it feels like to have two worlds overlapping—the current reality and the one I remember via endurance-based processes of feminine gestures.
Katayoun Bahrami
The Mirror, 2020
Cotton Yarn, Canvas, Acrylic Paint, Fabric Marker 36”x 48”
The poem exhibits a handwritten circular pattern, symbolizing the unyielding perseverance of women in their pursuit of justice. The red cotton yarn holds multiple associations, including violence, blood, war, strength, power, and unwavering determination. It embodies qualities such as passion, desire, and love, further enriching the profound meaning conveyed by the poem.
Katayoun Bahrami
Words of Silence (in collaboration with Florencia Montefalcone), 2023
Crochet rocks with red cotton yarn Vary
Through intertwining empowering words and poems from the inspiring Forough Farokhzad, it showcases the resilience of women who have defied societal norms. The performance goes beyond by inscribing the names of women and girls who sacrificed their lives during the Iran protests, memorializing their bravery. By bringing these stories to life through the power of words, "Words of Silence" seeks to torch a sense of hope, unity, and action within the audience and stands as a profound expression of support for women's rights and a symbol of solidarity for the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.
Katayoun Bahrami
Embraced Status Installation, 2022
Acrylic and metallic yarn-Hand weaved on a jacquard loom-Cement bricks Vary
As an international student navigating the complexities of visa regulations, I reflected on this disparity. Despite my legal presence in the country, the looming uncertainty of visa renewal lingered. Inspired by this existential journey, I created a creative endeavor, magnifying the visa document into a textile using a jacquard loom. Through this process, I intimately engaged with the materials, mirroring the intertwined nature of my immigrant identity. Much like the weaving of threads, my identity is inseparable from this 'alien' status, a reality I embrace with curiosity and acceptance, embodying the spirit of 'Expect the Unexpected.'
Katayoun Bahrami
Embraced Status, 2022
Acrylic and metallic yarn-Hand weaved on a jacquard loom. 36"x54"
As an international student navigating the complexities of visa regulations, I reflected on this disparity. Despite my legal presence in the country, the looming uncertainty of visa renewal lingered. Inspired by this existential journey, I created a creative endeavor, magnifying the visa document into a textile using a jacquard loom. Through this process, I intimately engaged with the materials, mirroring the intertwined nature of my immigrant identity. Much like the weaving of threads, my identity is inseparable from this 'alien' status, a reality I embrace with curiosity and acceptance, embodying the spirit of 'Expect the Unexpected.'
Katayoun Bahrami
Weaving Strings of Grief (Collaborative work with artist Narges Poursadeqi), 2022
Cyanotype and Crochet Rocks 72” x 288”
"Weaving Strings of Grief: Woman, Life, Freedom" is an emotional, artistic response to the profound sociopolitical circumstances unfolding in Iran. In light of the ongoing struggle for personal freedom and gender equality, this fiber-based artwork is a tribute to the spirit of the Iranian people, particularly women, who confront oppression with unwavering resilience and those who lost their lives for freedom. Responding to the open call by Surface Design Journal, this installation employs textiles as a unique medium to create artwork that will leave a lasting impression on viewers. Through the emotive language of color, pattern, and fiber technique, "Weaving Strings of Grief" captures the essence of our present moment and seeks to resonate with future generations.
