Tehran-based artist Pooya Aryanpour, born into a legacy of Iranian intellectuals, discusses his homeschooled roots, passion for painting, and projects like “Gone with the Wind.” He explores Iran’s vibrant art scene, balancing Persian heritage with global discourse through audacious innovation and cultural deconstruction.
Jordanian artist Maram Ali discusses her evolution from Impressionist landscapes to powerful portraits of Gaza’s martyrs. Born in Irbid, she paints with responsibility and beauty to honor silenced stories, witnessing injustice through emotionally charged, ethical works that demand global attention.
Iranian artist Niki Fallahfar explains how constraints sharpened her subtle embedding of desire, intimacy and bodily sensation in works like “Noah’s Ark.” Pushing beyond direct representation, she crafts playful, unsettling narratives that reveal the unspoken through humble materials and indirect gestures.
Turkish illustrator Ece Haskan discusses how self-portraits and depictions of the women around her shape a visual world of sisterhood, friendship and vulnerability, blending dark humour and tenderness to explore identity, emotion and everyday survival from a distinctly female perspective.
Palestinian painter Reem R reflects on a turning point in her practice after seeing a child’s drawing of “crying trees,” inspiring works that weave memory, loss and resistance into meticulously detailed still lifes charged with political and personal emotion.
Luning Wang’s curatorial vision fuses Shanghai’s dynamic art scene with lifestyle, fashion, and culinary culture, creating immersive cultural hubs. As founder of Rong Lu, she bridges East-West dialogues, educating Mandarin audiences while advising luxury brands on authentic, cross-cultural storytelling and collector engagement.
