Mountain View, CA, USA - Do yourself a favour and spend some time with this striking submission from Kiana Honarmand. The interplay of light, shadow, and heart is sure to take your breath away.

Bio from the Artist: Kiana Honarmand is an artist born and raised in Iran. Her work addresses issues related to her cultural identity, violation of women's rights in Iran, censorship, surveillance, and the Western perception of the Middle East. Derived from her interest in different materials and processes, Kiana’s interdisciplinary practice features the use of digital fabrication tools as well as traditional methods of craft. In 2012, Kiana moved to the United States to pursue and complete her Master of Fine Arts degree. She currently lives and works in the Bay Area. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and Internationally.

Find more from Kiana on her website and Instagram!

‘On Edge’ is an installation with a 7'x7'x7' sculpture made of CNC Machined MDF panels, light, and shadows. This work also utilizes politically-charged Persian text transformed into patterns. I am interested in using light and shadow as a medium that can take over the gallery and make the viewers a part of the installation as they move through the exhibition.

‘Resilience’ is a slip-cast ceramic sculpture with glaze and gold luster. This piece is from a series titled ‘Women Head Trophies’ that is a commentary on the violation of women's rights in Iran.

‘Across the Space Separating’ is an installation of vinyl on glass using patterns created from Persian calligraphy. Utilizing Persian text to pay homage to the history of hiding critical commentary in Persian poetry and visual arts, my work employs politically-charged writings that are subsequently transformed into patterns using the smooth curves of Persian calligraphy. While Persian text is associated with fear and terror in the current political climate of the Western world, these patterns take over the space to confront the viewer.

‘Wearing My Burden’ is a series of wearable sculptures made of layers of laser-cut felt. Each layer consists of a pattern created from Persian calligraphy. These sculptures address the overall burden and baggage that comes with my female Middle Eastern identity, both in my home country and in the United States. These pieces are inspired by my experience and people’s comments, biases, and assumptions about my SWANA identity. They become a physical embodiment of the burdens and labels I carry every day. They block my view and limit my movement, while simultaneously, I use them as a place to hide behind.

*Descriptions provided by Artist