About Hemaseh Manawi Rad
Hemaseh Manawi Rad is a young Dutch artist born in 1995; she lives and works in Eindhoven. Her works, which are of Persian origin, tell the story of the encounter between the cultures of the Middle East and the West.
Exploring the Personal Narratives Behind Hemaseh’s Creations
The textiles represent stories and lush atmospheres through which Hemaseh remembers her childhood, explores her places of origin, and proposes images of her iconography.
Through the detailed processing of the fabrics she has chosen, the artist celebrates her cultural duality, taking inspiration from and reinterpreting the ancient Persian art of carpets in a contemporary way.
The works are elaborate textile weaves that represent the plot of the artist’s life. The figures represented have their own volume that gives three-dimensionality to the entire textile surface. Different materials, such as wool, felt, and polyester, are combined with more precious fabrics, such as satin or velvet.
Hameseh’s tapestries are like quotes from the artist’s diary. Her imaginative textile works present themselves to the viewer as narratives sewn onto different and irregular geometric shapes created through bold color combinations. Thick dancing fringes and complex crossings of stitching add liveliness to the works, making them emerge from the walls that welcome them.
Understanding Animal Imagery in Her Art
Getting lost in the imaginative and eccentric garden of fabrics built by Hameseh, we find the series dedicated to the representation of the eye, an iconographic image typical of different cultures and religions.
Presented in various decidedly unusual color combinations, the collection of eyes watches over the visitor and accompanies him as he meditates on the themes of serenity, peace, and harmony.
In her personal interpretation of the evil eye, the artist has created six small amulets (25×15 cm) that, through their hypnotic power and bold use of color, would help the body and psyche find their natural balance. Continuing the theme of symbolism, the author has also explored other representations of luck.
Overturning the familiar imagery of the lucky clover, she chooses to amaze the viewer by highlighting the less common figure of the rat that, only in some cultures, represents success and prosperity. The work intends to change the often negative correlations of these creatures, highlighting their value and beauty.
How Textiles Foster Emotional Wellness
The author’s message to her audience translates as an invitation to be more compassionate towards one another.
Again, among the animal-themed works is a triptych of singing birds dedicated to the author’s mother in memory of a sweet lullaby that her mother sang to her as a child.
Hemaseh Manawi Rad’s creations will be on display at the upcoming Art Rotterdam 2025, where Galleria Bart will present the artist alongside textile works by artist Lawrence James Bailey.
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