Parnia Tajmirriahi
Parnia Tajmirriahi is a visual artist based in Milano whose work draws from prehistoric Iranian ceramic reliefs and ancient symbolism. Her paintings often depict mythological creatures, especially horned goats, as expressions of personal emotion and identity. Working in a meditative, instinctive way, she explores themes of memory, myth, and the human connection to nature. She has exhibited in galleries in Isfahan, Tehran, and internationally in Italy.
In conversation with Parnia Tajmirriahi during the exhibition Oltre la pietra at Castelgrande, Bellinzona.
Tell us about the project you exhibited at Oltre la pietra
The piece I brought to Oltre la Pietra represents two imaginary animals with goat-like features. Even though they have a soul, they embody the feelings of the goat, moving in an invisible circle, each searching for the other. This situation reflects how I felt when I moved here, as if my identity had split into two different people, with two different languages.
The artists chosen for Matazz seem to be connected by a shared sense of harmony. Looking at the various works and talking with both the members and the artists, I felt that I was in the right place. Art is made of feelings; it is our language. When I speak, I don’t talk about what I’ve done, because my true language is art. In this world, capitalism has often separated us from that language, forcing us to remain active to stay ambitious and to believe we’ve achieved something. I hope that one day we will be free to place our feelings in a world that holds more value and truly values us in return.
How did you started your practice
I started “One Soul“ six years ago, when I was still living in Iran. I recall watching a documentary about prehistoric terracotta objects, where the earliest humans first drew on that land to tell their stories and express their emotions, which later evolved into symbols. Among these, the goat appeared more than anything else. It was one of the first animals they saw in nature, and they associated it with the very hope of life and the possibility of creating a new one, just as the goat was doing on that land. Because it had horns, the goat wasn’t seen only as a symbol but even as a myth. It was as if the horns gave it extra power, and people often identified with this strong animal.
After watching that documentary, I began to reflect on myself, and I started to identify with the goat and the instincts it still embodies in Persian culture. From that moment on, I began expressing my emotions through this language. My works are a personal exploration of these prehistoric goat myths.