Bahman Kermany

Writing one’s artist statement can be a difficult task, without first explaining the individual’s historical DNA, therefore here is a short version of mine: Born in Iran, also known as Persia, this historical place with a unique geographical location has played a key role in shaping world history; for instance; the outcomes of World War II were decided by Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin when they met in Tehran in 1943. Iran was occupied at different times by Russian, British and Ottoman empires and in early 13th century nearly all Persian cities were destroyed during Genghis Khan’s invasion. In 330 BC Alexander the Great invaded from Macedonia and in the mid seventh century a Muslim army from the Arabian Peninsula similarly conquered the Persian kingdom. It is also a place where the world’s first charter of human rights were written by Cyrus the Great. Some of the greatest structures ever built in history including Persepolis, the Arch of Ctesiphon and the Shah square were located in Iran. Shiraz, one of the most ancient cities of the world, the iconic wine with the same name, as well as some of the most well-known poets like Rumi, Khayyam, Hafez and Ferdowsi are products of Iran. The world biggest oil reserves were discovered for the first time in Iran. These are just few historical notes that I have listed. At the age of sixteen I moved to Australia which then became my home for the next two decades. Just like Iran’s, Australian history continues to be filled with cultural and political conflicts. There are similarities between both countries, and between their cultures, which is no surprise as these reflect human behaviour throughout history. Thus, my works’ central theme will always engage with cultural heritage, social issues and political conflicts of both places that contribute to my identity.