“As an artist, I am naturally influenced by those I consider to be great painters. For me Klimt, Dali, Picasso and particularly Frida are my mentors…. not just the style of work but the way they lived and the influence they had on the art movement. I always start with drawings and for me womankind represents beauty, nature, strength, compassion, power and vulnerability. Of course, perhaps most important of all, it represents me.”
Souren’s work encompasses watercolors, oils and acrylics and in all of them you will find vivid colors and images that celebrate strength, pride, freedom and the beauty of nature.
“Many visitors to my gallery think they are seeing the work of more than one artist, but the truth is that the majority of the images tell a particular chapter of my story or they depict a particular aspect of my personality. In all cases every visitor will find something that touches their soul.”
Her love of horses is self-evident, and she knows that they are a significant part of US heritage. Souren has always been drawn to their beauty, stature and elegance but, most important of all, she is drawn to their independence.
Souren has exhibited in Europe, the Middle and the Far East as well as across the USA. Art is her universal language, and it allows her to speak to the world.
She will often tell people that art saved her life, and it is literally true. Souren had to go through a long period of recovery after escaping from Iran and art was her most rewarding and healing therapy. As a result of her experiences, and because of her mastery of both art and yoga to relieve pain Souren has developed an interactive therapeutic programme that combines drawing, art demonstrations and art yoga workshops.
Students and clients explore and develop their own unique body of art and learn to represent themselves through emotional movement and physical awareness eventually recognising the bigger picture that represents their own space.
Souren provides both public and private sessions tailored to individual needs.
“My work encompasses strong watercolour paintings, distinctive oil colors and acrylics as well as drawings both in anticipation of new works and in their own right.
Vivid color and form all contribute to the expression of deep emotions inspired by life`s experience, my journey to safety and freedom and, of course, my cultural heritage and feminine perspective.
Recurring images celebrating the power and dignity of the female form contrast with striking dark pieces, evolved from the denial of human dignity and the rejection of femininity through life.
My art frequently alludes to the fading shadows of Persian history in which my childhood and adolescence were rooted.
Past, present and future nags my brain relentlessly until the canvas begins to appear. People and their environment can rise or be lost in time and space.
There are reflections of emotions in the shapes and figures that live and play in silence and each work reveals a compelling journey of mind, body and spirit in an attempt to find peace and independence. Colors are both gentle and striking. Each canvas has elements of profanity, stoicism, regeneration and innocence. Every painting challenges the viewer with an ever-deepening narrative”.
