Never Ending Chaos

“Why do we decorate our walls with stories of war? What became of the graceful curves of abstract arabesques, the elegant figures at banquets, the carafes and goblets of wine? How did they come to yield their place to the brutal imagery of martial gatherings and veiled faces? What became of the rich colors and patterns that gave way to these wild, raw motifs?

Here, Javadi sets down images from our recent memory: signs of violent conflict, strange, bloodied images in the midst of everything. Where did this habit of adorning our surroundings with the brutality of war begin? How do we wish to connect our past and our present, or bring them closer together?

Perhaps Javadi uses collage to unite these pieces, creating a continuous reading of fragmented narratives. Perhaps her ornaments are meant to soften the deep wounds these fractures have left in us. Yet the lines between the tiles and the photographs remain visible. The pieces do not form a smooth surface. They may well break apart and collapse into chaos, the chaos of memory. We must contemplate the confusion that fills our eyes and minds yet fails to produce a seamless culture.

Perhaps these works are the place for such reflection.”

Text by Mehran Mohajer