10 Questions with Noor Taan

Noor Taan is a German/Lebanese interdisciplinary designer currently based in New York City. She holds a Masters in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute. Her artwork ranges from illustrations to photography and installation. It includes visual investigations using collages and digital art. She launched her online platform in 2015 to share her innovative experiments during her transitional life across continents living between Beirut, London, New York, and Tokyo, where she gained a global perspective on design. After eight years of working in the design field, she developed an eye for detail and a bold, minimal style. Her work focuses on experiments with natural products, such as in the Loofah project. The Loofah project - an everyday object that was repurposed to allow different human experiences - was developed during the period of two years and exhibited in Dimensions, Art Basel Miami.

www.noortaan.com | @noortaan

ARTIST STATEMENT

“The artist Noor Taan is fascinated by the spongy and tactile feel of raw, naturally grown material. She sees herself as a conscious artist whose interest focuses on sustainable living. Life Through Loofah is a large human-scale womb constructed with 500-1000 loofahs. It is an installation based on zero waste. In this ongoing project, the Loofah takes a new shape and function, which expands its uses and adds to its already sustainable use. Loofahs are used in various ways in different geographic places by different cultures around the world. In Paraguay, they are used to make furniture and build houses. In Vietnam, India, and China, it is consumed as a popular vegetable. In the Middle East, the Loofah is used as a cleaning sponge in the hammam. Taan was inspired by the way street peddlers gather the Loofah in large bulk and carry them around neighborhoods to sell them in the streets of Beirut. Combining light, space, and texture, this installation reflects the refined material, lightness, and roughness that create interesting shadows on its walls. It is an open-ended project that has been touring and evolving into different shapes, forms and sizes depending on the space in which it is being exhibited. For example, when exhibited at Dimensions Art Basel Miami 2019 Show, the Life Through Loofah represented the concept of awakening in a borderless world. The Loofahs were stitched in the form of a womb allowing people to come in and out of this organic human scale shape. This material is practical and open for experiments; it can be easily transported from one geographical place to another. Next is a new experience yet to be unfolded during her one-month artist residency in Nepal.”

INTERVIEW

First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. What are your history and your artistic background?

I grew up in a design environment where both my parents are design practitioners.

We moved apartments around nine times while I was growing up, and each time my parents would redesign the space in a different style. I chose my room decoration, wall color, bedsheets, and furniture almost every time. It also leads to me losing many of my things along the moving process, which is why I am not attached to things and can live minimally, especially when I travel. This shaped the free spirit, a flexible designer that I became today. I travel light, collect waste material that inspires my products.

During the 2006 war in Lebanon, I made art pieces to express my feelings. My artwork during this period expressed my anger against social injustices and suffering. Today, my work focuses on my concerns over climate change and producing eco-friendly products for everyday use to reduce waste and protect the environment.

You work both with digital art, as well as with installation and design. What are the main themes behind your work?

I am always on the go; I never stay in one place for too long. When I was 12 years old, I moved from Beirut to Montreal, and ever since, I have been traveling and meeting people from various backgrounds and cultures. Each place inspires my work in different ways. I adapt to new locations and learn from its people, but I always long for home. I am surrounded by a group of strong independent women, among them my mother, who taught me to be determined. In my work, I develop concepts related to identity, women, social justice, and slow living, which are the topics I deal with every day - Producing not only aesthetically “beautiful” work but also provocative and controversial. My work raises many social, political, and environmental questions.

You are also very engaged in environmental issues and sustainable materials. What do you think is the future for Art, on that matter? 

I’m passionate about discovering new sustainable materials, textures, and fabrics, and I’ve made it my mission to produce eco-friendly products and encourage others to do so. I strongly believe that the art scene will progress with a focus on sustainability; it’s our duty as an artist to consider first of all our planet. Artists are busy thinking about different ways to create awareness about climate change and the environment. They have an important role to play in providing a better future for the generation to come.

Is there any artist or recent research you are particularly following regarding the environment and sustainability issues? 

I am interested in repurposing objects and turning them into functional items. I am planning to start an initiative by offering a series of workshops in rural areas to introduce and encourage using local material in the production of locally handcrafted design that reflects the local culture and at the same time answers the demands of the market.

Where do you find inspiration for your works?

Nature is my major inspiration, a leaf, a branch, a seed can be a starting idea.
I am fascinated by the natural environment we live in. By that I mean things that were once living organism that later developed into different shapes and functions.

What do you hope that the public takes away from your work?

During my time in Nepal, where I went for a one-month artist residency, I developed work to be exhibited in my solo exhibition at the Bikalpa Art Center gallery, from April 25th till April 27th that included wearable objects made from loofah. Loofah has now become my signature work as a designer. My work inspired other companies and enterprise majorly focuses on manufacturing products to produce eco-friendly design.

You are very active on Instagram as well. What are your thoughts on social media as a means for art promotion?
Social media and other platforms just as the crypto world itself involves buying and selling art online. Social media provides a chance for everyone all around the world to make artwork and design visible. It provides an opportunity for artists and designers to be noticed based on their works and talents. As long as the artist stays true to her concepts and doesn’t fall in the commercial line work, social media provides an opportunity to reach out to international viewers.

Over the past year, we have witnessed many changes in the art world and our lives in general. What is one thing that you miss about your life pre-Covid, career, and art-wise? 

I graduated with a master's degree in industrial design from Pratt Institute, New York, during the Covid-19 pandemic. This was one of the biggest challenges that I faced as a designer. I had high hopes and aspirations to launch large-scale and cutting-edge design projects when I realized that the world did not need this. Like other artists, creators, and curators worldwide this past year, I have been busy adapting, innovating, and reimagining what and where to go with my ideas. I came up with the loofah concept that answered the demands of a changing world and our changing needs. The Loofah, a natural product that was repurposed for different use and function.

I miss going to exhibitions and galleries where I can immerse myself in fascinating artistic experiences. Installation is my passion, and I want to continue pursuing it: inviting people to touch, smell and feel my design is part of my work. I hope to be able to continue doing so. During the lockdown, I didn't give up. I came up with different ways for my audience to experience my art through my interactive website using a virtual form as a digital platform, accompanied by digital events.

And what is one new thing that, over the past year, you have discovered? Did you participate in any online exhibition or event?

In times of crisis, one develops creative ideas. For me, that was the case, and I felt the urge to develop concepts and produce things. As part of the amazing coffee wear design initiative, a zero-waste brand that upcycles accessories and handbags from coffee beans, I contributed with a series of illustrations and designs featured in their online exhibition and website. This was when I realized the potential of exploring online presence and visibility.

I recently had the chance to spend a month and a half in Nepal, joining Kathmandu International Artist Residency at Space A to develop sustainable, eco-friendly products combining local material with Loofah. I developed a line of products that I curated in a solo exhibition that took place in Kathmandu. The event was a successful one, and visitors were impressed by the amount of work and the creative variations that I developed from a simple natural material, Loofah.

Finally, what are your plans for the future?

I am moving forward with a hectic schedule this summer. I am planning to launch my first ever product line made from, obviously, loofah, and explore different carpet weaving techniques.

My father is a passionate collector of oriental carpets. I grew up surrounded by the colorful motifs of these carpets. With this inspiration, I started developing products from damaged/leftover parts of carpets. I plan to develop this concept over the summer of 2021. Another project that I started developing is an initiative to establish a virtual creative studio platform to gather artists and designers with the goal to develop concepts for sustainable, eco-green products.

Next is my trip to Mexico City, where I plan to stay for seven weeks to work with a sustainable brand Pimperl. Pimperl is a Mexican brand that produces clothing made from biodegradable bamboo fibers. I will be launching a special collection of sustainable clothing with them… More soon.