Many people lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic; I myself experienced the devastating loss of my beloved mother and my dear niece. This sorrowful experience not only made the concept of death more tangible to me, but it also confronted me with fundamental challenges about life and death. The never-ending questions about humanity's existence and fate, which had always concerned me, arose with even greater enthusiasm, resulting in a profound shock that shook my beliefs about life. Contemplating the possibility of other dimensions of existence entangled my thoughts, eventually leading to the creation of the "Snow Geography" series.
Snow brings forth dual and occasionally conflicting connotations for me. It can represent purity and brightness, as well as a symbol of filth, darkness, and decay. Snow can signify hope and despair, joy and mourning. Snow is white, yet cold. The whiteness of snow, in my perspective, alludes to other realms, divergent universes, and even the realm of spirits and supernatural beings.
"The Geography of Snow," artworks are a kind of confrontation with "self" for me. I believe that life must be embraced in its entirety, even with all its pains and sufferings. Painting, for me, is an attempt to embrace life. It is about falling, rising again, shaking off the dust, and continuing on the journey.
Mani Mehrzad,
November, 2023