MFA 2023 Artists MFA 2023 Artists: Azin Majooni

About Azin Majooni

Azin Majooni is a Persian interdisciplinary artist and MFA candidate at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She holds an MA in Graphic Design from Tehran Azad University and worked as a designer and instructor while living in Iran. Azin’s practice is rooted primarily in paper making, pulp painting, and printmaking. Handmade paper is the foundation of her forms and installations, and layers of pulp painting and screen printing reflect the patterns of her work. Azin’s work addresses the connection between women's issues and environmental problems. She believes that her multisystemic approach to environmental crises and the feminist perspective in her works are complementary.

Statement

I am captivated by the vast, barren landscapes of the desert. The natural, muted colors of dune and sand formations speak to me of resilience and adaptability, as well as the crucial importance of water in this unforgiving environment. I draw inspiration from the delicate balance of life in this fragile ecosystem, where the livelihoods of communities depend on equitable access to water resources.

I am particularly drawn to the role of rural women in achieving sustainable livelihoods through the collaborative and equitable management of water resources, such as the Persian ancient underground aqueducts known as qanats. These women have developed innovative ways to conserve and allocate precious water resources, using a portion of their income from Pateh sales to renovate and maintain the ancient qanats in order to sustain their families and communities. Pateh is a traditional needlework craft of rural women in Iran’s central deserts that has influenced the patterns within my work. Through a combination of pulp painting and screen printing techniques on handmade paper that features cultural motifs related to my work, I celebrate the artistic collaboration between women and the qanats and support their water shareholder's rights. I hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of desert landscapes and the innovative practices of those who call the desert home.

Paper is a critical medium to my work as it reflects the importance of water for human life. The tactile aspect of the papermaking process provides many insights and a meditative connection to nature. Large-scale three-dimensional papermaking allows me to create immense intricate papers that serve as a metaphor for women's resilience in the desert.

I seek to create connections between art, nature, and women's experiences. Though challenging, my work is fulfilling, and my hope is to spread awareness and stand in solidarity with the courageous women who are battling for their rights and dignity.