Woven from the Soul, Spun from the Heart

Sara Soleimani Qashqayi, has grown up in the shadow of tribal tents and away from
cityscapes, immersed in color and zest, her childhood adventures and playfulness were
cultivated in a subjective roller-coaster in search of beauty and Joy.
The nomadic lifestyle that artist witnessed as a child hardly exists anymore and the
collapse of this culture has left a deep mark on artist’s psyche. In response she began a
path of discovery by studying the artistic imagery and legacy connected to Iranian
nomads, alongside her academic career. She studied Conservation of Historical
Artefacts & Restoration at Bahonar University of Kerman and Master’s in Beaux-Arts
from Tehran Azad University.
She has undertaken several research projects including long-term and wide-spread field
studies on the tribes of Fars, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad
and Chahar Mahal Bakhtiari. She has studied, sketched, preserved, and reconstructed
the patterns and compositions of woven articles of different tribes; namely,
Ghashghaie, Bakhtiari, and Baluchi.
For her own artistic creations, she takes up the needle, thread, and fabric, settling for
Kerman’s Pattedouzi. She incorporates her own narratives on the rich tapestry that she
creates using the technique and knowhow of lady artisans of Kerman province.
Juxtaposing the old and the new, the artist shows her concerns, fears and hopes.