10 Questions with Yasaman Aghili

Al-Tiba9 Art Magazine ISSUE16 | Featured Artist

Yasaman Aghili, the founder of YDESIGNSTUDIO, is an Iranian-Canadian Multimedia Artist/Designer who works at the intersection of Art, science, technology, and visual media/culture. With a Master's degree in Color Science & Technology and over eight years of experience in drawing and acrylic painting, Yasaman brings a unique blend of scientific understanding and artistic sensibility to her work. Her journey in Art and Design has been enriched by her previous role as a Design Center Coordinator, where she honed her design and creative direction skills.

As a multimedia artist, she uses a diverse range of mediums and techniques, including traditional methods and contemporary digital art forms and mediums, to blend different aesthetics for visual storytelling and expression. Most recently, with her experience and expertise in Art and Design, Yasaman aims to harness the creative power of AI as a new tool/medium to explore new dimensions of creativity and innovative multimedia experiences.

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ARTIST STATEMENT

In this digital artwork collection, Bernini's Baroque Revival: An Avian Inspiration, Yasaman uses a para-fictional story/narrative to initiate, guide, and enhance her visual language and aesthetics, juxtaposing elements from different artistic eras. Based on her narrative, the spirit of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the "Master of Baroque Sculpture," has returned to the world. It is the resurgence of a soul who once breathed life into the cold marbles and unyielding stones to bring new inspiration to life—an "Avian Inspiration!"—in which Bernini has turned his attention to the exotic and captivating avian creatures: Flamingos—creatures hardly ever depicted in the Baroque era. Blending their fantastical and graceful beauty with the human forms, stunning marble sculptures were crafted seamlessly to fuse the surreal elegance of these avian beings with the vitality of the natural world—a rekindling of the Baroque flame that once illuminated the world with its dramatic flair and expressive power.

AL-TIBA9 ART MAGAZINE ISSUE16

INTERVIEW

First of all, can you share more about your journey from studying Color Science and Technology to becoming a multimedia artist and designer?

My journey into the world of Art and Design started with an academic focus on Color Science and Technology, a multidisciplinary field that integrates Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Technology, Art, and Psychology. Pursuing a Bachelor's and Master's degree in this field gave me a comprehensive understanding of color theory, color synthesis, color measurement, and color reproduction, as well as how colors apply and operate across various contexts, industries, and mediums. This academic foundation provided me with a unique blend of scientific knowledge and technical skills, which have played an invaluable role in my artistic vision.
While I was deeply engaged in my scientific studies, I was constantly looking for ways to integrate my scientific understanding of colors and their diverse applications along with my artistic sensibilities. My previous role as a Design Center Coordinator further enriched my experience, allowing me to apply my skills in a practical, design-focused environment. As I explored different design fields and artistic mediums, I realized the potential of blending scientific knowledge with creative expression, leading me to explore a range of artistic mediums and techniques, from classical methods like acrylic painting to contemporary digital art forms, ultimately guiding me toward a career as a multimedia artist and designer.

How did you first get interested in art? And when did you first approach digital art specifically?

As I mentioned earlier, my journey into art was inspired by a deep fascination with colors and their interplay. As I progressed through my academic studies and professional experiences, my interest in art evolved, leading me to develop my skills in classical and traditional mediums such as acrylic painting and watercolor. My introduction to digital art began when I started experimenting with digital tools and platforms, which offered a new dimension to my creative journey. The precision in controlling color and form and merging classical and traditional techniques with digital media, along with the opportunity to create collages, genuinely captivated me. Integrated with my background in color science and technology, digital art provided me with innovative tools to enhance my creative practice and expand my artistic horizons to explore new methods of storytelling and visual exploration.

Your experience as a Design Center Coordinator seems pivotal. How did this role shape your design and creative direction skills, and how do you incorporate those skills into your current work?

My role as a Design Center Coordinator was indeed pivotal in shaping my design and creative direction skills. In that position, I was responsible for coordinating and curating the design center's displays, managing design projects, and training and mentoring new design consultants, which required a deep understanding of design principles and an ability to translate functional needs into visually compelling presentations. This experience taught me how to balance aesthetic considerations with practical functionality and how to effectively direct a team toward a cohesive design vision. I learned to approach each project with a strategic mindset, considering both the artistic and commercial aspects of design. Additionally, I gained valuable insights into "user experience," which I now consider in how audiences interact with and perceive my art and design.

You work at the intersection of art, science, technology, and visual media/culture. Can you describe your creative process and how you blend these diverse elements into your multimedia projects?

My creative process involves a dynamic interplay between art, science, technology, and visual media/culture. It starts with a concept or narrative that I aim to explore, beginning by researching and experimenting with various techniques and mediums to determine the best way to express my ideas. My understanding of color theory and scientific principles guides my choices in color and composition, ensuring that my work is both visually engaging and harmoniously balanced. I then integrate traditional art techniques, such as drawing and painting, with contemporary digital tools and technologies. For instance, I use digital platforms to experiment with new forms and compositions that might be challenging to achieve through traditional methods alone. One of the key elements in my work is the creation of collages. Integrating various materials, textures, and imagery in creating collages allows me to blend different visual elements into a cohesive whole. By juxtaposing elements from different artistic eras, worlds, mediums, techniques, and genres, I aim to have a visual take on established literature methods, such as poetry, para-fictional stories and narrations, and surreal illusions and imaginations. As an immigrant, I also draw profound inspiration from my personal stories, emotions, and experiences, weaving them into my artistic narratives. Some of my artworks, which resonate deeply with the essence of femininity, serve as a form of self-reflection and expression, allowing me to explore themes of identity, belonging, and cultural heritage. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, I integrate elements and motifs of nature into my art, celebrating its symbolism of resilience, growth, adaptation, harmony, balance, mindfulness, consciousness, and interconnectedness. Throughout this process, I continuously refine and iterate my work, balancing artistic intuition with technical precision.This approach ensures that each piece is not only visually provocative but also conceptually meaningful, reflecting the intersection of art, science, and technology. Most recently, incorporating AI tools and platforms has further extended my artistic capabilities. The result is a multimedia approach that offers a fresh perspective and multi-dimensional experiences.

Let's discuss your recent collection, "Bernini's Baroque Revival: An Avian Inspiration." What inspired you to create this story, and how does it enhance your visual language and aesthetics?

"Bernini's Baroque Revival: An Avian Inspiration" was inspired by my fascination with the dynamic and expressive qualities of Baroque art and the vivid elegance of flamingos as an avian creature. Bernini, the "Master of Baroque Art/Sculpture," with his incredible ability to infuse sculptures with lifelike dynamic movements and emotions, has always been a profound source of inspiration for me. His mastery in capturing the drama and complexity of human emotions through exquisite details and fluid forms fascinated me and compelled me to explore how these elements could be reinterpreted in a modern context. By merging these elements, I aimed to create an imaginary and surreal narrative highlighting themes of transformation, form, beauty, and movement. This collection enhances my visual language by incorporating the dramatic flair of Baroque aesthetics with the fantastical and graceful beauty of flamingos, which are hardly ever depicted in the Baroque era. This fusion inspired me to create a fresh narrative rooted in historical references and styles that resonated with my artistic sensibilities.

The fusion of avian creatures with human forms in this project is quite unique. What drew you to flamingos, and how do you see them fitting into the Baroque style?

The Baroque period, characterized by its ornamental details, emotional intensity, and dynamic compositions, offers a rich visual language. On the other hand, flamingos, with their vibrant hues, elegant postures, and graceful movements, have long fascinated me. They are more prominently featured in contemporary art, embraced by their bold colors, irony, and playfulness. By juxtaposing these contemporary symbols with the majesty of the Baroque era, I aim to create a dialogue between two seemingly detached worlds. This combination emphasizes themes of transformation and grace, making flamingos an ideal subject for exploring the expressive potential of Baroque-inspired visuals. In my visual narration, the vibrant, vivid colors and the fluid, elegant forms of the flamingos intertwine with the elaborate, dynamic, and dramatic essence of Baroque art.

Why did you choose to work with Bernini and Baroque sculpture? Do they hold a particular significance for you, or do you see them particularly fit to describe our world and society?

Bernini and Baroque sculptures resonate with me due to their ability to convey intense emotion, movement, and drama. The transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque era marked a shift from the idealized and harmonious forms of the Renaissance to a style that embraced more dynamic, emotional, and often theatrical moments. These qualities are particularly relevant in today's fast-paced, ever-changing world, where visual and emotional impact is preeminent and critical. By drawing on the rich artistic heritage of Baroque sculpture, I aim to create a collection that reflects the complexity and dynamism of contemporary life while also paying tribute to the timeless beauty and craftsmanship of this period, precisely to Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the "Master of Baroque Sculpture."

Looking to the future, you mention how you aim to harness the creative power of AI. How do you envision AI transforming your artistic practice and the broader field of multimedia art?

In my work, I use AI to explore new dimensions of visual storytelling, generate novel artistic forms, and create innovative multimedia experiences. AI helps me to transform traditional literature forms—like poetry, para-fictional narratives, and surreal imagery—into a contemporary visual language, offering an artistic perspective and a self-expressive statement.
We stand at a pivotal and transformative moment in the intersection of human creativity and technology. I personally believe that in this dynamic artistic collaboration, AI acts as a versatile tool while the Artist brings the vision. AI enhances traditional concepts of creativity by expanding the multimedia artist's toolkit, providing new ways to explore and reinterpret existing styles, forms, and themes. This partnership allows for a deeper exploration of visual aesthetics and conceptual frameworks, enabling the fusion of diverse cultural and artistic influences. Additionally, AI's capacity to process and analyze extensive datasets opens new avenues for multimedia artists to create new forms of storytelling, expressions, narratives, and imaginations in innovative and thought-provoking ways.

What upcoming projects or exhibitions are you currently working on, and how do you see your practice evolving with the integration of new technologies and mediums in the future?

As I previously mentioned, my artistic vision is centered around a poetic multimedia visual language. I am currently focusing on exploring the intersection of art and cutting-edge technologies with an emphasis on poetic self-expression. Through these new explorations, I aim to create works that not only captivate the senses but also invite viewers into a dialogue where technology and art intertwine, revealing new dimensions of creativity and emotional resonance.
I am currently working on several artwork projects and collections that incorporate multimedia experiences and AI-driven visual art, including "Sormeh," "The Nārang Serenade," and the "Vã" collections, to name a few. Each of these collectionsexplores different themes and artistic expressions, reflecting my journey as an immigrant multimedia artist. For instance, the "Sormeh" Collection is a visual poetic narration celebrating the beauty of cultural heritage and the natural world. Drawing from my immigration journey and my Persian heritage, I aim to explore themes of identity, femininity, and resilience through a personal visual narrative. "The Nārang Serenade" is an AI-driven video art that portrays themes of longing and nostalgia through the journey of a woman living two parallel lives, highlighting the exploration of immigration and transformation. The "Vã" Collection—Vã, meaning "and" in Persian, my mother tongue—captures a serene moment where a woman is gently embracing a Persian typography. Through this collection, I aim to reflect a deep sense of belonging, embodying the connection to my homeland and the cultural heritage that shapes my identity.

Lastly, what is your biggest goal for the rest of 2024?

My biggest goal for the rest of 2024 is to focus on my new AI-driven art projects and collections and to successfully expand my reach through exhibitions and collaborations. Additionally, by exploring advanced technologies and mediums to create impactful and meaningful artworks, I hope to inspire and engage a broader audience, encouraging them to engage in a conversation where art and technology merge, revealing fresh insights and perspectives on creativity and emotional impact at the intersection of artistic expression with technological innovations.