B.S. in Mathematics, Azad University, Karaj, Iran, 2005
B.A. in Sculpture, University of Art, Tehran, Iran, 2014
M.F.A. in Painting, Al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran, 2017
As an Artist, Scholar, Teacher, and a Ph.D. Candidate at The University of British Columbia (UBC), I am passionate about and dedicated to everyday practice of creativity, imagination, and learning. These endeavors underscore my belief in the transformative influence of arts and aesthetic experience on our daily lives, personal growth, empathy for both humans and more-than-human-beings, as well as our broader perspectives and perceptions.
In alignment with Maxine Greene’s philosophy, which underscores the concept of “response-ability” to actively interact with the mundane aesthetic encounters using a renewed perspective, and emphasized by her concept of perpetual “becoming,” I strongly hold the belief that:
‘I am who, I am not yet’!
My doctoral research, Narratives of Change: Cocooning and Anti/Metamorphosis through Interdisciplinary Exploration, Living Inquiry, and Art Practice, marks a pioneering intersection of Contemporary Art, Aesthetic Experience, Art-Making, Aesthetic Education, Creative Writing, and Cultural/Social Studies. This study navigates the fluid identities of artist and scholar within the realm of art-led research, cultivating an educational environment that mirrors the concept of ‘cocooning’.
Central to this work is an allegorical exploration of the domesticated Bombyx Mori’s lifecycle within sericulture, metaphorically engaging with concepts of vulnerability, anti/metamorphosis, and freedom within human experience. The notion of anti/metamorphosis critically examines the paradox within societal and educational frameworks that, despite intentions of nurturing, can sometimes inhibit growth and encourage stagnation. In my practice, silk and my body serve as primary materials, integrating the tactile and the personal into visual art-making, further deepening the exploration of themes central to my research.
Drawing on methodologies inspired by Currere and art-led research, my dissertation transcends traditional academic boundaries. This methodological blend promotes a ‘cocooning experience’ that facilitates metamorphosis through a synthesis of academic rigor, aesthetic engagement, and creative interrogation of lived experiences and memories. Utilizing silk and my body in visual art-making not only emphasizes the personal and tactile aspects of my research but also enriches the narrative and conceptual depth of the inquiry.
Awards
Public Humanities Hub Research Seed Grant Recipient for “Cocooning and Anti/Metamorphosis: An art-led interdisciplinary Odyssey.” 2024.
President’s Academic Excellence Initiative PhD Award, University of British Columbia, 2020-2024
anti-metamorphosis, vulnerability, freedom, aesthetic experience, currere, art-led research.