Salman Khoshroo (previously featured), currently residing in Tehran, delves into the complexities of emotion and the masculine condition through his evocative portraits crafted from colored raw wool. Informed by his personal experiences during quarantine and his confrontation with trauma, Khoshroo has embraced wool not only as an artistic medium but as a therapeutic intervention. Each piece reflects a delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience, with fibers meticulously woven into lifelike faces that embody the fragility of human emotions. This innovative use of wool challenges traditional perceptions, intertwining warmth and intimacy with masculine undertones, suggesting a re-evaluation of material usage and thematic exploration in contemporary art.
Khoshroo’s woolen sculptures emerge not just as artistic statements but as intimate dialogues, engaging with themes of identity, fragility, and the reinvention of self amidst adversity. By choosing a material often linked to warmth and serenity, he effectively evokes a sense of nurturing amid the chaos of today’s world. His work challenges stereotypical norms by merging a conventional feminine material to reinterpret facets of masculinity, exposing layers of complexity within each portrait. Ultimately, these woolen figures symbolize a journey of introspection and transformation, prompting a reconsideration of both artistic methods and the stories we tell through the medium of art.
The Wool on Foam portraits are tied to my experience of quarantine and recent trauma. Weaving inanimate fibers into faces brings me comfort and helps deal with the issues. These portraits are delicate and vulnerable and resonate with my own precarious situation. We live in fragile times, and I feel the need to find new materials and the mindset to reinvent my practice. Wool brings warmth and intimacy to these portraits, and plays with provoking the nurture instinct. Making male portraits with this habitually perceived feminine material, is part of a personal journey in re-interpreting the masculine condition. My aim is to make full volume sculptures in wool and develop some of the ideas out of this initial project.
Salman Khoshroo
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