I love telling stories and I love hearing stories. After that, I start thinking about what kind of material would communicate all these aspects the best. This is where I decide how I can transform this into a work of art, how I can convey this giant network of meanings and histories and relationships into a single work or a constellation of works. From there, I dive into a lot of research to really get into the context of that story, looking at it from various angles to comprehend it deeply.
Can you walk us through your process? How do you get from the initial idea to the result?Įvery single project begins with a tiny story, something that seems insignificant in official history.
Your work is often described as heavily research-based. That's what I believe was the main reason. That was central because I no longer felt fragile or uncomfortable about it: the constant juggling between two identities, two places and two languages. I also think I became more at peace with my status as an immigrant. I knew this was my only way - I had to build everything from the ground up, and I had to do it on my own. It was really my determination and the sense that I had no other choice. What do you think happened in 2018 when you came back that made a difference? Being an artist is a challenge anywhere in the world, but in Iran, especially as a woman, it adds an extra layer of difficulty. Yet, upon my return, things didn't pan out as expected. That's the reason, after completing my master's degree in 2013, I swiftly returned to Iran because I thought there was no future for me here. My overall experience here hasn't really felt very inclusive. My journey has been quite bumpy, which is why this recognition gives me hope. Tell us a bit about this transition and how you've made Montreal your home over the past few years. You came from Iran to Montreal 13 years ago to study fine arts at Concordia University, and you've gone back and forth since then. So, in that sense, the nomination has a double importance for me. I'm also hopeful that institutions are becoming more and more open to the themes I tackle in my art, even when are not always the most comfortable and convenient. I think about young emerging artists from the BIPOC communities how they can see that someone like them can receive such a recognition for their work. It was quite disorienting, but it gives me hope. Especially for individuals like me who hail from a different country, with a different cultural background, and not being completely fluent in the language - it took quite a bit of time to get here. You know, it was quite a surprise because the path to reach this point hasn't been easy.
To find out more about these hidden meanings, the incredible journey she has undertaken, how it feels to have her work recognized by such influential institutions, and the agency and strength of Iranian women, CBC Arts spoke with her outside her Montreal studio.Ĭongratulations on the Sobey nomination! Could you tell me how you got the news, and how you reacted? There are many hidden meanings embedded in the materials I use." "During my master's in fine arts," she says, "I became fascinated with the agency of different materials, how each material carries its own history, politics and economy … and how this can infuse so many layers and depth into the work. Norouzi adapts her materials to each story she seeks to tell. She focuses primarily on marginalized histories and more recently on the legacies of botanical and archaeological excavations conducted by colonial powers in non-Western landscapes. For me, it's been these small connections and encounters over time that have piled up and brought me to where I am today."Īll these accolades have led to multiple exhibitions in the coming months, and Norouzi is creating new bodies of work for each of them, expanding an already impressive multidisciplinary portfolio that combines installation, sculpture, photography and video. I wasn't that lucky artist who got discovered by someone to supercharge my career. "I had an incredible year," admits Norouzi humbly, "but what I've learned is that it's all about accumulating these little pieces that eventually add up to something significant.