Yasuna Iman. Photo by Johannes Berger.
YASUNA IMAN
Yasuna Iman is a multidisciplinary artist developing a visual abstract language on handmade paper and wood, using rust, maple, botanical pigments, and other raw materials sourced in the natural world. She creates sculptural paper wall pieces called Paperscapes from hand foraged maple fibers, as well as Earthmaps, textured paintings whose stratified surfaces emulate the bird’s eye view of imaginary landscapes.
Both of these art forms are inspired by the various shapes, textures, patterns, and shades found in nature, as well as their symbolism and metaphorical meanings. Working primarily by hand in a slow and conscious manner, she follows ancient traditions and techniques of creation, imbuing the artwork with meditative and elemental qualities.
Yasuna Iman is intentional about involving the fleeting nature of botanical pigments in the narrative of her work, centered around the notions of impermanence and fragility which connect humans to nature. She welcomes the inevitable transformation of natural pigments in her creations and uses them to draw multiple parallels with the human condition. Her work invites introspection and contemplation, encouraging the viewer to reflect on – and ultimately embrace – their own impermanence. Born and raised in Paris, France, she graduated with a BA in Art History and Archaeology in 2016. Self-taught artist, she currently lives and works in Berlin, Germany.
beating maple fibers: fallen maple bast fibers are beaten by hand on a grinding stone, to be further processed into the paper pulp used to create the Paperscapes (sculptural paper wall pieces). Photo by Johannes Berger.
rust pigment foam: when incubating, rust water can develop a thick foam at the top, used to create different pigment textures on the surface of artworks. Photo by Johannes Berger.
minute traces paperscapes: Minute Traces is a series of 16 artworks, released in Fall of 2021, reflecting on the endless cycles of birth and death around and within us. Pictured are, are the 6 Paperscapes from this series, painted with rust, maple and chalk. Photo by Johannes Berger.
Photo by Johannes Berger.