ANBI
1060
Artwork
Street art piece
Migration
Street Art Museum Amsterdam
Author:
Nafir
Artist Bio:
Nafir is a self-taught iranian artist born in Tehran whose works are influenced by traditional iranian art and culture. As he call him self vandal street artist his art focus on social problems of Iran and whole world. Nafir start tagging in 2008 on crowded walls of Iran to fight with censorship political and social problems. He found his moniker in an old school book of Molavi (Rumi) poetry, which literally translates as ‘scream’. His work often references traditional Iranian art such as eslimi and carpet weaving - combining two things that should not be together: one which is accepted and revered; the other forbidden.
In Iran, where Street Art is strictly illegal, Nafir is compelled to paint quickly and make strong statements about social and political problems in his country. Preparing and cutting stencils in his studio, he has mastered the skill of putting up his work in a matter of seconds. When painting abroad and with permission however, his artwork tends to be much more personal and expressive. His paintings can be found around the world in Iran, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Italy, Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Turkey, India and Georgia
Place:
Ruys de Beerenbruckstraat
Date:
2015
Technique:
Stencil
Material:
Brick
Acquisition:
Commission
Completed:
2015
Condition:
Good / Legible
Physical Description:
The work of art illustrates human silhuettes in black holding to a blue balloon with yellow stars that represents the European Union. The miniature is in a dark green frame.
Iconography:
Nafir arrived for the first time in his life to Amsterdam at the beginning of the Syrian refugee crisis. He was shocked by the local press reports, because this was not as widely covered in his Native Iran. The stencil shows a group of figures sliding down the European Balloon which seems to be slipping away from them as they dripp down (representative of graffit spray paint dripps) into the sea of darkness.
Gallery
