Iranian-born artist Abdolreza Aminlari’s sparse works on paper speak to themes of displacement and repetition. Known for his small, threaded geometric designs and use of negative space, Aminlari creates inventive, intricate compositions that seem to be part of a larger whole. The embroidered aspect of his work harkens back to his maternal relatives, who he remembers gaining meditative solace from cross-stitching Persian rugs and miniatures. The geometric patterns are often references to sacred designs from Iranian mosques, but they are made contemporary during his process of stitching. Says Aminlari, “I try to allow room for the shapes to exist. The negative space becomes a sort of breathing room, a space for contemplation.”
