Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian is an Iranian artist, who after studying at Parson’s in New York in the 40s and 50s, returned to her native Iran where she developed her East meets West style of dramatic, captivating mosaic sculptures. After a visit to the Shah Cheraq Shrine in Shiraz, Farmanfarmaian explained the experience as “stepping inside the centre of a diamond and staring at the sun”. Combining her acquired knowledge from studies and the traditions of her homeland she set out to recreate the visual intensity of geometric patterns and reflecting light. For the viewer, he works are that special kind of art that transcends the visual to become something truly hypnotising, sensory and mind altering if only for a moment.
