Saffron, Hibiscus and
Natural Colors
Nature, the juxtaposition of time and space, birth and death, natural patterns, structures of growth, decay, chaos, and order I find in nature, inspires my art practice. Creating my colors and inks from fresh, dried flowers, spices, plants, earth stones, and pigments —the medium intelligence, an essential aspect of my creative process—transforms them from just mediums to parts of places and time.
Furthermore, like any other living thing, flowers produce different colors according to various weather, soil, and location. Therefore, each color created is unique and specific to the moment, time, and environment, making them nonreplicable.
They become singular visual aesthetic records of that unique location and time.
I often use Saffron and Hibiscus tea as my medium in some of my pieces. Inspired by the ancient Persian miniature, Manuscripts, and Illumination, the use of Saffron was considered a sacred and protective color. For me, Saffron has a deep connection to the meaning of home, with its aroma, taste, and color that I experienced in my childhood.
