Bita Vakili (Iranian, b. 1973)

The present painting by Bita Vakili deliberately swings between abstraction and figuration. Using founds objects such as metal tinsel, staples and other small sparkling objects, the artist refers to the visual effervescence of New York City with its high-rise buildings and seductive towers. The figure at the centre of the composition appears as a self-portrait of the artist. Through her impressive composition, Vakili evokes her passion and attraction for the Big City yet she simultaneously reveals her own sense of nostalgia, as if she was caught in a personal dilemma.