Interview
Lida Arzaghi
Lida Arzaghi is an Iranian multidisciplinary artist, mainly working in textile and fiber art. After graduating in graphic design and multimedia from the University of Worcester in England, she started a new journey in photography.
Lida then began a few years of experimenting, leading to her completion of a master’s degree in contemporary photography and philosophy at The University of the Arts London: CSM. This was where she began trying out different mediums and expressions.
Lida pursues an extensive array of interests and studies, such as the conscious and unconscious mind, culture, memories, everyday sentiments and more. These inform and feed her artwork, and yet her work is open to any new experience and opportunity.
Lida continues to show her works in well-known galleries, like the Tate Modern (Tate Exchange) and many other exhibitions throughout England, Italy, Iran and Croatia. During the pandemic, Lida held online artist talks for Ual:Csm’s photography students.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born in Iran in the middle of the Iran-Iraq war. It was not very safe outside, so we spent most of our time at home. I didn’t have much desire to play with my many dolls and toys, but painting, colored pencils, oil pastels and watercolors had a very special place in my life. When I was 3 or 4 years old, I’d get up around 7 a.m. and start painting while my sister was getting ready for school, then eagerly wait for her to return home and see my new artwork.
Painting and drawing have been a priority in my life for many years. In a society where engineering and medicine had a special place, I was so lucky that my father and sister, who is an artist too, encouraged me to follow art academically. So with a diploma in mathematics, I chose to study art at university. And that was the start of my artistic journey.”
What inspires you most?
“Books and mediation are my best source of inspiration! Reading and meditating as a daily routine helps me balance a stressful and hectic lifestyle. As my mind calms down, inspirations and ideas find their way to the surface. I just give inspiration a chance to show up. It’s always there but can’t show itself because of mental conflicts.”
“Human history has shown that art and artists have a significant impact on people’s attitudes, and also in creating social transformations.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“In my research, I explore a variety of topics related to the mind, especially the subconscious. I look into its function and impact on shaping the human's character and his physical and emotional health. And as many psychologists and neuroscientists believe, all of these are rooted in our childhood memories.
In my work, I strive to make the viewer more aware of their inner world. To encourage them to confront their fears and limitations, so they can overcome and solve them.”
How would you describe your work?
“I try to bring the inside out. To empty myself of all the accumulated junk and unwanted things that overshadow and control my life. I try to cleanse all those negative thoughts, failures, fears, and limitations created by our minds, based on some of our earliest memories.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I’ve been influenced by a number of artists, including Christian Boltanski, Kumi Yamashita, Mona Hatoum and Tamara Kostianovsky. However, Mary March formed the strongest connection in my mind with the theme I chose to study.”
What is your creative process like?
"The process begins with immersion in a specific topic. I research information and attempt to study it from various angles. After pondering for a while and determining material, form, color and texture, I begin to create. However, I still remain open to some changes at this stage, as I believe in evolving during the creating process.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Artists have always been at the forefront of the emergence of new currents of thought. Perhaps the most important reason is that the artist indirectly forces people to think and learn.
In fact, by seeing artworks in new styles and formats, people's minds gradually become ready to accept new concepts and ideas. Thus, stereotypical norms gradually change and society moves forward. Of course, technology and the internet in the contemporary era have greatly increased the speed of transmission of these developments around the world, and consequently, the speed of cultural growth of societies.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“One of the exhibitions that was very enjoyable and different was a photo exhibition in Croatia. The works of many artists in small sizes were displayed in an open environment, and viewers could take as many works as they wanted for free. Although unfortunately, I did not have the honor of attending that exhibition, the fate of those few artworks is very considerable to me. This is because the artworks exhibited did not have a strict price attached. Rather, because the viewers were from a variety of backgrounds and financial circumstances, they were allowed to purchase the works regardless of whether they could afford them or not, even taking them for free if needed, making the work accessible to all. The artworks may also be handed out over and over again as a gift. This not only does not detract from the value of each piece, but also gives the work a double value.
Of course, each exhibition brings a unique experience for the artist, including an exhibition I had at Tate Modern, with a relatively similar experience to the Croatian exhibition, but with a more specific audience.
An exhibition at the University of Newcastle was also a different experience for me, as I exhibited my work with artists such as Pat Naldi, Jane Wilson and Louis Wilson.
The online residency I had during the pandemic with the University of the Arts London:Csm and the Arthousehaus Gallery was a unique experience. As the pandemic took a toll on artists, as well as other occupations, this residency served as a productive environment for artists from around the world, even in the face of new conditions and restrictions.”
Website: www.lidaarzaghi.com
Instagram: @lidaarz
