Art Dubai: Nazgol Ansarinia Explores the Role of a Window

Iranian inter-disciplinary artist Nazgol Ansarinia’s latest artwork focuses on the paradoxical function of a window, which she will showcase at the Art Dubai 2025.

Nazgol Ansarinia’s Artwork at Art Dubai

Image source: Green Art Gallery.

Green Art Gallery will present the artist’s work at Art Dubai, which features a series of metallic color pencil drawings that are part of her most recent series titled ‘Instruments of Viewing and Obscurity’.

The drawings are representations of textured glass, which is an object Ansarinia focuses on in her two-part exploration; one focusing on the window as a tool for looking out and textured glass as a tool for blocking the view on the inside. 

“The whole project revolves around the window as an opening that allows you to look out, but it also becomes this point where somebody else can look into your private space. It is a point where the complex relationship between seeing and beings collide,” the artist told UAE Moments.

The showcase at Art Dubai will only feature a preview of a larger project, which will be unveiled at Green Art Gallery during a solo show this June. 

The Artist’s Exploration of Space in Her Artwork

Image source: Green Art Gallery.

The Iranian artist constantly explores the function and evolution of domestic and urban spaces and elements through her artworks. When we asked her about the reasoning behind this focus, she said, “My father is an architect, an urban designer. Growing up, I was always surrounded by discussions around the subject during parties or family gatherings. Therefore, I was always aware of the changes in the city.”

However, Ansarinia did not train as an architect, she pursued graphic design during her higher education. She never learnt about traditional artistic mediums like painting or sculpture growing up or during her studies in London and San Francisco. Nonetheless, she wanted to become an artist, which led her to return to Tehran, taking a plunge into a new artistic expression in a cultural context different from her time abroad.

“I was trying to develop my own [visual] language, which was a new thing in Iran. It was new to me, and it was also new to the artistic community here,” Ansarinia said.

The artist not only creates art about spaces, but she also creates projects inspired by Iranian cultural motifs and artistic techniques. In her ‘Mending’ project, Ansarinia showcases a traditional Iranian carpet. However, she does not use these techniques or motifs because of their cultural significance. “I picked them because of their presence in the everyday, for example, the Iranian carpet is everywhere. Every Iranian has a Persian carpet. It is a valuable and precious object, but at the same time, it is a very functional and everyday object,” she explained.

Participation in Global Exhibitions 

Image source: Green Art Gallery.

Nazgol Ansarinia’s artwork is part of collections at world-renowned museums including the Tate Gallery and British Art Museum.
 

She has also had exhibitions in famous cities including Riyadh, London, Vienna, and Lisbon. She was awarded the Abraaj Capital Art Prize for her work in 2009. 

The artist has exhibited her work at Art Dubai before and returns to the 2025 edition with fascinating new artwork.

The event will run from April 18 to April 20, so book your tickets here.