ArtistSaya Behnam
Orderly Chaos
Date2020
MediumInk on paper; Weld (weed), malachite, turquoise, and mud pigments with 24 Karats of gold leaves hand application
Dimensions41 × 57 in. (104.1 × 144.8 cm)
Credit LineDC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Art Bank Collection
Object numberDCCAH2021.008
ClassificationsPaintings
Locations
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Library (901 G St NW)
DescriptionSaya Behnam produces natural inks from flowers and plants. The full range of these colors emerges from the delicate processes by which they are extracted from dried or fresh petals, as well as spices, minerals, and stones. The colors are therefore specific to the moment and environment in which they were created. The uncertainty of this process is combined with Behnam’s intuitive and intentional brush strokes as she applies the ink to the surface, and her precise rendering of pattern, inspired by sacred geometry. Ultimately, layers of colors, forms, and shapes unfold. The use of gold leaf as well as classical Persian patterns and color palette also play an important role in Behnam’s artistic oeuvre.
