Donya Aalipour

My preferred artistic medium is …
…painting.

My art in three words…
I would say colorful, courageous and free.

A recurring theme in my work is...
My artistic practice is rooted in the process of observation and reaction. I closely examine my surroundings, including societal developments, politics, feminism, and, in particular, the events unfolding in Iran and the political issues its people face. I reinterpret these observations through my personal lens onto the canvas. I don't want to deliver any messages, but rather want to raise questions about the topics that interest me.

The female figures in my paintings often take on an antagonist role, and while the figures vary, I always see traces of myself in them. The element of group dancing in my work is inspired by the protest in Iran, where people expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation through dance. This form of protest was deeply moving, compelling, and beautiful, and I decided to incorporate it into my paintings as a symbol of protest—expressed in a graceful way.

Ultimately, I aim to portray what I observe around me, the human perspective on life, I think the experience of being a woman in society often comes with universal challenges. Through my work, I present these experiences in a narrative way. Storytelling is another important element in my art, perhaps rooted in my childhood. I believe storytelling has always been a very important aspect of human existence. It´s how we historically made sense of the world. 

I draw inspiration for my art from…
…different sources. Aesthetically, Persian miniature painting has a significant influence on my work. The colors and the combination, and the characteristic two-dimensional perspectives strongly shape my artistic approach. While I work with many layers in my paintings, I minimize the use of traditional depth and perspective. Beyond that, my daily life and personal experiences—especially moving from Iran to Europe—play a central role in shaping the themes of my work.

When it comes to materials, it’s important to me that...
To be honest I don´t really focus on exploring different materials. Instead, I am more interested in traditional medium of oil paints and canvases. I see two-dimensional canvas as having a lot of potential for me to tell my stories. There´s a simplicity in this medium: an object that, on its own, remains inert, but can be transformed into something captivating and meaningful through elements I add to it. I think I still have many stories to tell.

My greatest artistic achievement so far...
… is finding my artistic language in painting and finishing my studies.

The feedback that influenced me the most…
… was from my professor at the Academy, but I'm not going to say what he told me. The second good one came from an artist who told me that if I still see elements of other artists´ work in my paintings, it means I haven't found my own artistic language. That was like a lightbulb moment for me. The third piece of advice was to add more drama and narrative to my paintings. This was very helpful because I had always wanted to do that, but I wasn't sure if it was the right direction. Hearing it felt like a confirmation that I can embrace that approach.

If I could give advice to other emerging artists, it would be...
… to not focus too much on the market. To not chase trends but to focus on what you truly want to create. To take the time to figure out what matters to you personally and professionally. To remember, just because someone is exhibiting frequently or selling a lot doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a great artist or that their work is of high quality. To believe in yourself and to keep moving forward.

The transition from studying to artistic independence means to me...
It was challenging, but I managed it quite well. During my time at university, I had already learned how to be independent. A year before graduating, I moved out from my university studio, and I rented my own space.  While this wasn’t a particularly big challenge for me, I´ve found the social pressure much harder to navigate—the expectation that, now that you’re no longer a student, you must build an adult life, earn a living, and manage your artistic career. These pressures can be overwhelming. I think this is a critical period for many artists, and unfortunately, it’s also a time when many choose to give up on pursuing a life as an artist.

My studio in the Creative Cluster is a place where...
… one can find a community. The moment you enter the building, you feel a distinct energy—a spark to create—because so many artists are working here.

An artistic idea or project I’m excited to realize...
Currently, I have a group show in Austria and an art fair in Dubai coming up. And I am working on my solo show in Tehran this summer, which I am very much looking forward to.