No Limit to the Dreams

As probably you all know Iranian religious minorities, in particular Christian sisters and brothers have found the Islamic Republic of Iran quite supportive and protective of their rights and hence, they do their best to contribute towards the progress of their country, Iran, in various fields such as the cultural, artistic and scientific fields. They have truly come to believe that Islam guarantees their safety, honor, dignity and prosperity and thus they have presented commendable examples of endeavor and industry. Here you will read an interview conducted with a Christian Iranian lady has taken remarkable successful steps toward s progress and has presented considerable works of art.

Drima Sarkisianis a famous Iranian artist who in spite of suffering a certain disability in legs (due to paralysis) has succeeded remarkably in the art of sculpture, reflecting love, emotions and affection in all her works. I had the pleasure to conduct an interview with this Christian artist residing in Tehran, Iran. She received us at her home warmly and started giving the interview thus:

I am Drima Sarkisian, born in Tehran in 1965. I got my Bachelor’s degree in the field of handicrafts and the Master’s degree in art’s researches winning the 8^th rank. I studied in Az-Zahra university, and presently I teach arts in Hazrat Maryam(SA) ’s high school which is for religious minorities in Tehran. Also I was selected as a model teacher in Tehran.

Q: When did you start your artistic activities? In short when did you first come to know about your interest in arts?

A: I have been fond of drawing and painting since childhood. My mother, noticing my interest, would buy me color pencils which I found very lovely. I would use each piece of paper I found for drawing and painting. Eventually, after finishing high school studies, I started my higher education in handicrafts. I got the fifth rank in the list of the students who successfully passed the entrance examinations for the faculty of arts at the university.

Q: Why did you choose to use wood in sculpture? Did you find any advantage in it over the other materials?

A: At first I was very interested in pottery. But once I saw my mother hurt her hand by a broken earthenware I had made, and I was annoyed because of my mother suffering from wounded hands and so I decided to work with wood ( which is more durable than earthenware) in my third year of university studies. Of course, before using wood I have used glass and metals in sculpture too, but I found using wood much better because, among other things, it absorbs moisture.

Q: Would you please give us a brief account on the history of sculpture in Iran?

A: It’s history dates back to the era before the birth of Christ(AS) in the world, and in Iran it dates back to the pre-Achaemenion period.  The Medes and the Ilamies who among the first Iranian people left the works of sculpture.          A very interesting point I found out in the course of my researches on art is that the Iranian peoples have probably been the only peoples who did not worship the statues they made, unlike the other peoples.

Q: Of your own artistic activities and teaching arts to your students, which one do you like best?

A: I like both, for certain reasons. I use just my own artistic ideas while I am doing my own artistic works and while I am teaching my students then I ask them to draw, for example after a pattern, I get to know theirs too. I always try not to impose my own ideas on them, so their creativity will be preserved. I just teach and train them as a teacher. Sometimes some of my students try to copy my works exactly, but I advise them to try to have their own creativity.

Q: Do you employ religious ideas as patterns and motives in your works?

A: Yes, of course. In fact the theme of my thesis was “The Saints’ Icons”. Taking my teachers advice, I selected the icon of Her Holiness Maryam, Virgin Mary, (SA) to work on. After working on several portraits of Her Holiness Maryam(SA), I decided to work on ‘the mother and child’ pattern. I have presented several works on this pattern too.

Q: Which one of your works is considered the most valuable by yourself?

A: the pattern of the mother and child and the portrait of Her Holiness Maryam(SA) have been among my best works. And it is interesting to mention here that as a result of my researches on sculpture I have found out that most of the works of artists in this field have been related to woman in various areas or to woman with her child, mostly presenting woman as a symbol of birth and preservation of generations.

Q: Who was your chief patron?

A: My mother. She always encouraged me in my efforts to do better at arts. Also I think that I have inherited the talents, because my grandmother was skillful at carpet-weaving and my grandfather knew some music. Hard work and perseverance have also been very effective factors in my success I might have gained. You know carving, in particular when one has to use heavy logs it is not an easy job and thus requires love for the art besides hard work.

Q: Are you active in other artistic areas beside sculpture? This question occurred to me on catching sight of some other art works decorating your house.

A: Not as a profession, but I have some skills at arts such as carpet-weaving and glasswork and have some works on these fields too. But my focus has mostly been on sculpture.

Q: Would you please talk to us about your interest and awards in sports too!

A: Presently I am a member of the swimming team of the disabled of Tehran province. I have won several awards at the national and provincial levels so far. The lady who taught me how to swim would encourage me for my speed, commenting that I enjoyed a high level of strength. So I selected swimming as my favorite sport.

Q: In your opinion, which factors behind your success in sports?

A: Physical strength coupled with courage and perseverance. I should add that in this field too, I believe in the great benefits of healthy competition – competition without jealousy and I try to be a good model for my students in this connection too.

Q: Would you please explain your viewpoint on “Iranian Women”  for the readers of our magazine Mahjubah, which is published particularly for women?

A: I believe woman is a potentially very powerful being and if properly guided, will become able to lead the society towards dynamism and progress. In fact the women are those who bring up men. In today’s world, the coupled role of men and women in the construction of societies is undeniable. As for Iranian women, they have always been symbols of self-sacrifice and resistance and have proved to possess many talents in various fields.

Q: And what are your suggestions to our readers regarding learning arts?

A: As a humble artist, I advise them to be patient, because learning an art takes time and also requires creativity. And I request all to value arts, because through arts societies can be promoted to desirable levels.