Iranian-born artist Maia presents ‘Rebirth’ exhibition shaped by light, poetry and letters at Ruang Teduh Gallery

Kuala Lumpur, September 25 — Iranian-born artist Maede Hoseini, widely recognized as Maia, is unveiling her latest solo exhibition, "Rebirth," at the Ruang Teduh Gallery between September 22 and October 3. The gallery's press release describes the collection as an amalgamation of Tezhib, Persian miniature, calligraphy, painting, and contemporary typography, all influenced by the artist's transitory cultural experiences, memories, and personal rejuvenation.

The statement emphasizes the pivotal role of Tezhib, Persian miniature, in the exhibition, stating, "Gold becomes both material and metaphor: a presence of light, concentration and attention."

Maia reinterprets traditional Persian visual motifs through abstraction, color, and gesture, imbuing them with new significance within a modern context. Her deep-rooted knowledge of Persian art, honed over years of meticulous study, blends seamlessly with her academic background in mathematics and programming. This unique fusion yields works that strike a balance between rigid structure and fluid expression.

Illumination, miniature, and textual elements converge throughout the exhibition, generating compositions that oscillate between discipline and creative freedom.

The artist's miniature-inspired pieces feature flowers, birds, and symbolic figures within imagined landscapes that exist between reality and fantasy. Her calligraphy and typographic works treat Persian letters as expressive gestures, often intentionally disrupting legibility to emphasize rhythm and movement. With 15 years spent in Malaysia, Maia's evolving connection to Persian visual language has facilitated reinterpretation, allowing her to move beyond her original cultural context.

The exhibition situates her artistic practice between continuity and transformation, presenting Persian references through a contemporary lens and individual sensibility.

The title "Rebirth" encapsulates the exhibition's theme of renewal, suggesting the creation of something entirely new from previously lived experiences. The subtitle, "When Light, Poetry and Letters Awaken My Soul," underscores the central role of the exhibition's three core components: the luminosity of Tezhib, the poetic essence of miniature, and the expressive potential of calligraphy and typography.

This exhibition represents a period of introspection for Maia, consolidating disparate elements of her practice not as a retrospective, but as an exploration of the emergence of new forms from established traditions.