My paintings are inspired by the current generation of Iranian women’s identity crisis. Contemporary Iranian women are swinging between the limits of everyday reality and fantasy. In this free and joyful swing, stretching the boundaries of beauty and obscenity, many have gradually changed to grotesque caricatures. Their identity is seen through the mirror of Western media, yet quite opposite to their appearance, their beliefs are quite traditional.

Vanity, excess, artifice and extravagance—these are the first words that come to mind when thinking about these women. Extremes and exaggeration seem to define this generation, so I created a grotesque atmosphere for the backdrop of my series “Share Me.”