Artist Statement
Invisible shadow
These 4 pieces are titled, Invisible Shadow. I am always thinking that my life has been predetermined based on my past generation. Each person is a combination of their ancestors’ experiences and their own experiences. The name Invisible Shadow presents the effect of my previous generation in my present life. I want to imbue an inner and mysterious feeling of respect through the layering of old photos of my previous generation onto women’s figures. The figures’ faces are covered by some parts of the body. Each painting expresses a different feeling. Anxiety is shown as the figure who covers her face with her hand. Whereas power is suggested by printing the photo of the great grandparent on the spinal cord. Love and kindness are presented as the grandmother’s face printed on the chest. As a matter of fact, we are all connected; the old experiences of our ancestors are the cause of who we are.
Everyday women deal with many obstacles such as violence, bullying and war. The problems remain even after the issue is solved; the historical fear will remain in the mind forever. The hard brushstroke of brown paint shows hardness and insecurity. The Persian texture reflects my great interest in my artistic culture. The black background demonstrates the solidity and loneliness of the character.
My editorial and spot illustration pieces are titled Successful Entrepreneur Immigrant Women in Canada. The illustration is a combination of painting, collage and digital media.
Neda Moftakhari is an Iranian-Canadian artist located in Toronto. She works in editorial illustration. She likes to demonstrate her experiences, feelings and thoughts through her illustrations. She likes to use mixed media and texture in her illustrations through traditional and digital media. These works have been done traditionally with acrylic, soft gel and handprint techniques.