Interview
MAD
MAD was born in 1987 in Tabriz, Iran. He is a street artist, who started out creating in his home country of Iran in 2008, and currently lives and works in Istanbul, Turkey.
His major interests include fantasy, sci-fi, and sometimes apocalyptic storytelling, while also combining critical social and cultural commentary with a dose of humor and metaphor.
He has presented his unique works on walls and art galleries of numerous countries around the world including Iran, US, Netherlands, UK, Norway, Indonesia and Turkey.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“In Tabriz, where I was born, I met Icy and Sot, as well as other friends. We spent a lot of time together skateboarding, snowboarding, and doing parkour sports. We spent our days in the streets of Tabriz, where my friends used to paint small stencils on the walls from time to time. So I started to paint small stencils too. It was the first time I felt I could express myself properly. Using walls and street art, I was able to show my feelings about certain topics. Over time, it became my profession, and I have made many sacrifices for that.”
What inspires you most?
“The society we live in and all the matters we face in our daily life have inspired me greatly in my works. The mechanization of everyday life, and fictional, mythological and divine stories are also a great source of inspiration.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I’m not limited in pursuing a specific theme. I let myself drown in my imagination, creating fantasy and fictional images which are somehow related to our real-life issues. I like to work on mysterious images with hidden message layers, letting the audience discover the message for themselves.”
“I create fictional and fantasy worlds by mixing different elements and characters, sometimes based on mythological and divine stories blended with my own vision.
It’s a world where everything can happen; a world without any limits.”
How would you describe your work?
“When I was living and working in Iran, I mainly worked on social and political issues. Later when I moved to Turkey, I started to work on different subjects and held my paintings to a higher artistic standard.
Today, I add more details, more colors and more layers to my works, and the stories they deal with have become more complex.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I enjoy watching the development process of my favorite artists. There are many artists who have inspired me since I started painting, such as Moebius, Bosch, Frank Frazetta, Banksy, Dolk, Pejac, Aec Interesni Kazki, and many more. I truly admire their artworks.”
What is your creative process like?
“The process of creating is different from one work to another. Sometimes the idea of a painting pops into my mind simply from reading a story or even a short sentence in a book, or watching a movie. Sometimes just watching and enjoying other artists’ works inspires me to create something.
Later, I try to complete the idea and add small details on the computer. I then cut their stencils and paint them onto the walls or any other surface.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Art can take many forms, such as protest or addressing political and social issues with direct action. The artist can connect you to your senses, body, and mind. Art can make people sympathize with and connect with each other, and hopefully it may bring about a change in people’s way of thinking and acting in society.”
Please tell us about any previous exhibitions you found noteworthy and wish to share.
“My first solo exhibition at Seyhoun Gallery in Tehran, Iran, was a great experience of presenting my works and thoughts to street art lovers for first time.
Also, the group exhibition called Mikrotopya in Istanbul in 2020 was built around an incredible concept. It was held in an abandoned building, and received much attention in the city and the press.
My group shows Outsiders in Stavanger, Norway, and The Reunion in Amsterdam, Netherlands were also great shows.”
Website: www.madstencils.com
Instagram: @mad_stencils
