Katayoun Amjadi
art@katayoun.com
www.katayoun.com
Artist Statement
Why don’t you smile Bozi?
The main source of inspiration behind my work comes from the simplest and earliest surviving manmade forms, iconic cultural images, and pre-historic artifacts. My art is an attempt to understand the
relationship between past and present, tradition and modernity, and individual versus collective identity,
as well as to spur discussion about our understanding of time and history. I recycle traditional imagery
as a means of exploring my own psycho-political impulses and reflecting upon the dynamics of power
relations in contemporary life.
Why don’t you smile Bozi? )‫ (آخه بزی چرا نمی خندی؟‬was inspired by the stylized design
of a Persian ibex (a mountain goat) motif that I have borrowed from a six thousand
year old Iranian ceramic beaker. In the Persian language “bozy” means little goat,
and the title of the work refers to a humorous folk song that was meant to spread
holiday cheer and put a momentary smile on the frozen faces of people. I use
“bozy” as a symbol of a glorified past evoking the Persian Empire, Persian
Garden, Persian carpet, Persian cat, etc. juxtaposed with the miniature gold-leaf oil
barrel that evokes “axis of evil”, Persian Gulf Wars, sanctions, nuclear programs,
Geneva talks, and simply put, Oil politics. I’m fascinated with oil politics and the
major role it plays in the world’s delicate political balance. My generation came of
age in the aftermath of Iran’s 1979 Revolution and the subsequent eight years of
devastating war with Iraq. With many Iranians choosing life in diaspora, I often
wonder how different history would be if oil had never been discovered in the
region.
Beaker – Susa (modern Shush,
Iran), c. 5000 BC., ceramic
painted in brown glaze, Louvre
Museum of Paris