Bio
Shiva Pakdel
Shivapakdel.com
The goal of my work is to celebrate the distinctive art, symbolism and evocative imagery of my native Iran. By layering, and then embellishing, a series of digital images, I hope to showcase the range of Persian art. My compositions are modern, digital collages created in Northern California, my home for nearly 50 years, yet they strive to evoke a rich tradition of storytelling inspired by Persian history and my own past.
I grew up in Abadan, a prosperous city in Southern Iran, in the 60s. Abadan had the largest oil refinery in the world. A very international and multicultural population developed, bringing many European and American residents. With them came a quite modern Western lifestyle. Abadan became one of the most liberal cities in Iran, tucked within a country steeped in tradition and history. I was raised in a well-educated, secular family who emphasized history, literature, art and culture. My Dad a physician, was an amateur photographer; he used to take me with him on photo shoots, instilling in me a love of imagery. My early exposure to both East and West, coupled with my family’s influence, has shaped me.
I emigrated to the United States in my teens, and earned a BFA in graphic and commercial art. I have called Northern California home since the 80s. Living so close to Silicon Valley, I use digital technology as a tool to bring together my general love of history, art, and imagery, with my own Iranian background. I started developing this digital layering technique after a trip to Iran in 2015, when Instagram first became popular, as a visual storytelling tool. I wanted to showcase my experiences and to shine a spotlight on my native Iran, which seemed underrepresented here in the United States. I hope you can enjoy, and gain insight, from this series.