Statement:
The 30 Bird Project

Inspired by Sufi mysticism and Persian mythology, this newest art series is a tribute to my culture. (Scroll down for the backstory.)

Composed of digital artworks printed on metal, The 30 Bird Project is now available for the exhibit!

🕊 THE BACKSTORY 🕊

Simurgh is a mythical bird in Persian literature. “Si” means “thirty”, and “Murgh” means “bird” in Farsi. Hence Simurgh means "thirty birds".

Twelfth century Persian Sufi poet Attar of Nishapur composed a mystical poem called the Conference of the birds.

A metaphor for God, the story is about the birds of the world searching for their king, the legendary “Simurgh”.

The birds face a difficult journey. On the way, many die of heat, thirst, or illness, while some become prey to other animals.

Finally, only Thirty Birds survive and find the Simurgh. But in the process, the birds learn that they themselves are the Simurgh (30 birds)!

Ultimately they understand the Sufi lesson that the majesty of life is us, like a reflection in a mirror. We are what we seek. 🌈

Shiva Pakdel is an artist, an artist advocate, an art curator and a collector. She has more than 30 years of marketing and advertising experience. With this site, she offers her clients a unique sampling of her art, and the artists she represents.

Timeless Themes of the
Persian Perspective

Art transcends language and cultural barriers. It has the power to connect people by revealing their similarities and shared humanity thereby transforming prejudice into understanding.
 
Persia (Iran) is an extraordinary land with a deep cultural history that evokes different feelings to some people in the States who might only associate it with the political version gleaned from the media.
 
This exhibition celebrates the cultural side of Iran and focuses on its distinctive art and imagery from the past and present. It intends to showcase a compelling sampling of the scope and range of Persian art and artists that transcend the constraints of ideological and cultural borders.
 
More than 50 works will be on display from antique Persian art and textiles to works by contemporary Iranian artists living here and in their home country. Contemporary Iranian art speak to similar social issues people all over the globe struggle with. At this exhibit we have the opportunity to see ourselves in the “other” through art.

A selection of my work from the Timeless Themes of the Persian Perspective project

The Puzzle of complexity and beauty is the only way the Islamic arches and geometric designs can be defined.
The artistic energy of the Islamic craftsmen and artists went towards the development of highly recognizable and branded designs.
The intense focus on the promise of paradise and reaching heaven was delivered through elegance, beauty and geometry resulted in complex mathematical designs that required great knowledge of math coupled with enormous creativity that included elements of nature, calligraphy, & history.

From the Timeless Themes of the Persian Perspective Series
This series focuses on the beautiful art and architecture of the Persian archers.
to see more of my work, follow me on Instagram @shivasartsalon

Simorgh is a mythical bird in Persian mythology and literature. “Si” means “thirty” (Si=30), and “Morgh” means “Bird” in Farsi, therefore Simurgh means "thirty birds".
A 12 century Persian Sufi poet (Attar), composed a mystical poem that’s among the most significant of all works of Persian literature – “The Conference of the Birds”.
THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS in Sufi mysticism:
The poem is a symbolic rendering of the doctrine of Sufism with Simorgh as a metaphor for the divine. In the story, the birds of the world’s meet to set out a search for their king, the legendary “Simorgh” (reference to above, the most revered Persian bird with the name that means 30 birds). The birds have to take a difficult journey to reach the divine. On the way, many die of heat, thirst, or illness, while some become prey to other animals.
Finally, only Thirty Birds make it and find the Simorgh but in the process, the birds learn that they themselves are the Simorgh (30 birds)! Therefore they understand the Sufi learning that they/we are the majesty and the miracle of life and life itself is a reflection of our own image in a mirror.