The Iranian artist who found her ‘Rebirth’ in Malaysia

Malaysian artist Maede Hoseini Maia has embraced imperfection as part of her artistic transformation, which is the focus of her first solo exhibition in Malaysia, "Rebirth - When Light, Poetry and Letters Awaken My Soul" at Ruang Teduh Gallery. The exhibition showcases Persian calligraphy, miniature painting, and tezhib, an ancient Iranian art of gilded, geometric ornamentation.

The exhibition's central theme, however, is Maede's personal transformation, which she describes as a shift from perfectionism to embracing mistakes and imperfections. Her tezhib works draw upon Iran's ancient geometric ornamentation tradition, with the phoenix at the center of her work "Rebirth" symbolizing renewal and wisdom. Maede's journey of transformation took place over years of living, painting, and finding peace in Malaysia, which she believes helped her feel closer to God and find inner peace.

Painting became a means of inward conversation for Maede, and her tezhib practice demanded extreme concentration, leading to a sense of emptiness and meditation for her. Maede's mathematical background in Iran has also been beneficial to her artistic practice, but the art that demanded precision has also taught her to let go of perfectionism.

Her relationship with Iran has also evolved, and she now feels a deeper appreciation for her heritage while recognizing the changes in Malaysia that have shaped her. The exhibition is a mix of memories and influences from Iran and Malaysia, with batik, Chinese, and Indian elements blending into her visual language. Maede hopes viewers will look beyond the paintings and see the feelings and experiences of an artist who is homesick.