Untitled

Independently accomplished, long time partners Amer and Farkhondeh form a seamless collaborative artistic process. Drawing upon the ideas of automatic writing employed by the Dadaist in the years following World War I in which the thoughts and subconscious of the artist were expressed, Amer and Farkhondeh work together passing works back and forth until each is satisfied. Revealing a harmonious world embracing nature, abstract design and a variety of themes ranging from ancient time to today, these works reflect the signature styles of both artists. Well known for her canvases overlaid with intricate embroidery, Amer employs a similar technique in the present work while simultaneously embracing Farkhondeh's graphic sensibility. Built up in layers, the present work depicts a hazily illustrated backdrop of a distant forest delicately hand-stitched and embroidered to render a lush field of flowers and leaves in the foreground. In combining traditional handicraft techniques often associated with the domestic role of the female figure with established fine art processes, Amer and Farkhondeh together challenge the traditional boundaries of painting and explore themes of long established gender roles.