Statement

Sepideh Bordian, pronounced seh-pEE-deh (meaning dawn), is an Iranian Canadian artist specializing in oils, charcoal, and graphite. Born in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War, her parents, seeing no hope for their young daughters’ futures, moved the family to Vancouver in 1993.

After a decade managing operations in the startup tech industry, chronic pain from a car accident led Sepideh to pursue her passion for painting and drawing, along with a fascination for capturing light. She aims to convey the profound moments she experiences in nature, where each stroke either mirrors her anxieties or offers solace—a dynamic exchange she strives to capture in her art.

"I primarily follow the traditional oil painting method. This involves drawing and painting from life, conducting historical and reference image research, sketching with pencil and charcoal, creating various studies, and finally, working with a combination of alla prima and layering of oils on larger studio pieces."

Sepideh's art, steeped in oils, charcoal, and graphite, navigates the harsh contrasts of privilege and agony, culture and erasure. Raised under the oppressive influence of Iran’s regime, her parents had the privilege to reject raising daughters in a society guilty of gender apartheid. Abroad yet tethered to a homeland she can't return to until it's free of its current regime, her work mourns Iran's silenced voices and threatened culture.

Each plein air stroke is a painful yet essential homage to nature's fleeting beauty, serving as an emotional counterpoint to the regime’s atrocities. These landscapes evolve into larger pieces, juxtaposing serenity against horror, subtly infused with traditional Iranian symbols and historical references. This labyrinth of experiences shapes Sepideh's art, from oppressive schooling to the sorrow of being in a 'free land' she cannot yet call home.