STATEMENT

My artistic practice is a profound exploration of memory, identity, and the elusive concept of "Place," redefined not by geography, but by the intricate landscape of inner experience. Shaped by growing up in a multicultural family and living in different countries from a young age, my work is driven by a persistent, deeply personal quest for belonging—a search that cultivates roots and home within the rich, often unspoken, realm of sensations and perceptions.

Through abstract painting, I embark on an intuitive and process-oriented exploration, striving to capture the essence of lived experience on canvas. This ongoing pursuit aims to evoke a sense of belonging, a rediscovery of the familiar, as if "having already been there"—a testament to how the unconscious mind eternally holds the imprints of our past, even as conscious memories may fade.

Furthermore, I explore the dynamic and fluid nature of memory itself: how it takes form, the moments of its loss, and the continuous process of making new recollections. My work particularly seeks to give visual voice to the silent imprints of experience, those profound sensations and understandings that often exist beyond conventional articulation. This intricate interplay shapes our very being, and it is this transformative power of memory that I seek to articulate and visualize through my work.

BIO

Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1981, to a multicultural family with Kurdish, Armenian, and Persian roots, Mehrnoush Elahipanah’s childhood was marked by war and the complexities of growing up in post-revolution Iran. These foundational experiences, coupled with living in various countries throughout her formative years, ignited a lifelong exploration of identity, memory, belonging, and the elusive concept of “place” within her artistic practice.

Mehrnoush received her initial training in painting and drawing in Iran. She later pursued graphic design at Qərb Universiteti (Western University) in Baku, Azerbaijan, and earned a master's specialization in visual and web design at the Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan, Italy. Her work is represented by Winarts Gallery, Milan, and is available for sale through the gallery and on Artsy.

She currently lives and works in Milan.

EXHIBITIONS