Artists
Iran
Zhino Yousefi
Zen Scape
11.03.24 05.04.24
Zhino Yousefi is an Iranian-Canadian artist and engineer based in the California Bay Area. She holds a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Digital Futures from OCAD University. Her artistic journey began with traditional Iranian paintings, rooted in Iran’s cultural heritage. She then transitioned into immersive art installations, merging art with technology. Using electronics, sensors, Virtual Reality, and 3D design, she explores themes of home, diaspora, and existentialism.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My artistic practice weaves narratives of home, diaspora, and the search for belonging. Drawing from the rich traditions of Iran and Kurdistan, my work transcends the visual, inviting tactile engagement and sparking conversation. I incorporate materials, symbols, and motifs specific to Iranian and Kurdish cultures into my pieces. These elements act as bridges, connecting viewers to the stories embedded in the work. My work encourages viewers to engage with it on a physical and emotional level. Textures invite touch, while open-ended visual and audio elements inspire reflection and storytelling. My aim is to evoke emotions in viewers as they connect with the themes of my work and their own experiences. By fostering dialogue and introspection, I hope to create a space where viewers can explore their own narratives of home, displacement, and belonging.
BIO
Zhino Yousefi
1990 | Iran. Lives and works in San Jose, California, USA
EDUCATION
2023 | Masters of Fine Arts. OCAD University, Canada
EXHIBITIONS
2023 | Chance Variations. Rhubarb Festival, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Canada
2023 | Ordinary/Extra Ordinary. OCAD University, Canada
2022 | Woman-Life-Freedom. OCAD University, Canada
2019 | Alefba. Queen Gallery, Canada
2016 | Iranian Miniature. Irena Art Gallery, Canada
AWARDS
2021-23 | Sole recipient of the President’s scholarship, OCAD University
2012-14 | Two times recipient of the Edward S. Rogers graduate scholarship, University of Toronto
2008 | Full scholarship for undergraduate studies, Sharif University of Technology
2004-12 | Member of the national organization of exceptional talents in Iran
Related Activities
Open Studio
Landscapes of Experience
Artists in dialogue
04.04.24
On April 4, 2024, we held the second Open Studio of the year, presenting the works of March-April residents Zhino Yousefi, Ardine Nelson, Fred Marsh, Geneviève LeDuc, and Ioulia Akhmadeeva.
Zhino Yousefi (an Iranian-born, Canadian-raised artist now living in the United States) presented her installation Iranian Whispers: A Zen Garden in the Polyglot Room. Ardine Nelson shared the results of her stay in Buenos Aires, a presentation with the photographs she took of our local flowers and plants. and Fred Marsh showed the photolithographs that he made from a photographic series of cave paintings in the Dialogue Space. Geneviève LeDuc presented a pictorial intervention with colossal female figures guarding the 4 corners of the terrace space, as part of her Palimpsest Project mural painting residency. Finally, Ioulia Akhmadeeva shared with the local public, and with part of the Russian diaspora she interviewed in Buenos Aires, the process she carried out as part of her Production Residency researching Russian families who recently emigrated to Buenos Aires. Aires.
We shared these works with an interested public, which was attended by members of the CCEBA-Centro Cultural de Buenos Aires in Argentina, local artists, members of the Russian diaspora residing in Buenos Aires, and friends and family of ´ace and the artists. .
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OPEN STUDIO
April 4th, 2024
3PM to 6PM
Exhibitions
Iranian Whispers: A Zen Garden
Zhino Yousefi
04.04.24 19.04.24
Zhino Yousefi is an artist and engineer, holding a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Digital Futures from OCAD University, Canada. She came to ´ace to participate in an Exploration Residency, during which she developed her project Iranian Whispers: A Zen Garden. Zhino was born and raised in Iran, after which she moved to Canada and later to the USA.
In this micro-Residency, Zhino created an immersive audiovisual experience that blurred the boundaries between sound and visuals, taking the audience on a transcendent journey. Her residency concluded with an immersive audiovisual installation that invites viewers on a transformative journey through the realms of sound and visuals. The project aims to redefine the concept of a zen garden by incorporating captivating visuals and interactive sound elements. This innovative approach challenges traditional notions of art and technology, promising the audience a truly distinctive and immersive experience. Unlike a conventional zen garden, which involves the meticulous arrangement of sand and other elements, this project adds a creative twist by incorporating projection and interactive sound, breathing new life into this traditional art form.
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