Today we’d like to introduce you to Narges Rezaian

Hi Narges, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

I was born and raised in Iran. I was always fascinated by the magic of animation and visual storytelling which I got introduced to via illustrated story books I used to read as a kid. Ever since I can remember I have been drawing and painting. During my teenage years, I decided I wanted to study Arts and build a career as a visual artist. My true interest was in animation and character design. However, it was not common back then as a professional career since no academic degree was offered in this field. So, I decided to study Graphic Design and get my first degree in the field. Later on, I got into the animation industry by finding an entry-level job in an animation studio. After several years of professional practice in multiple projects at various studios, I found myself interested in going back to academia to study the discipline more in depth. Therefore, I entered a master’s degree program in animation at Tehran University of the Arts. During my study, I fell in love with how some idiosyncratic artists such as Jan Svankmajer would use animated bodies to communicate various subject matters. Later on I discovered my passion for animated characters and bodies in general stems from my obsession with the theme of the body in general and my own body image which was always subjected to specific rules and regulations policing the female body function and appearance in a patriarchal system. I found animated bodies liberated from all rules and limits in the laws of physics as my dream state of being embodied. Animating bodies in any shape or form had a therapeutic quality to it which became a conscious act of reclaiming my right to my body through art-making during my academic research practice and shaped the core of visual narrative in my films.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

I am sure so many women artists go through much harder experiences, but I had to go through some rough patches of my own. The systematic, political, and social obstacles and limits definitely played a significant part in my day-to-day struggle as a female artist, especially considering that I preferred rather traditional and/or alternative approaches to art-making and animation in specific and was not too keen on applying state of art technology in my work. Add to the mix my narrative ideas and stories that were not in line with the systematic propaganda that would prevail in the media and get funded. Therefore, when I immigrated to Canada, I was able to experience an alternative situation. However, one would be mistaken to think that diasporic artists do not face other types of challenges in making their art. I had to face new obstacles here again, but they were mostly due to my financial situation as an international student and an immigrant living by myself which deprived me of the community of friends and fellow artists who would be great resources and help for my projects. One could nonetheless find such challenges disproportionately less, as the freedom and rights they are endowed with here can open new opportunities for them, which fortunately was the case for me.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am an animator and storyteller. I specialize in character design, animation (especially traditional 2D animation and stopmotion animation), and visual development of a story. I am known for both my professional practice in the industry in the areas above and also for my independent shot animations with an alternative approach to elements of narrative and design, often mixing various techniques, which are the product of my ongoing interdisciplinary research practice borrowing ideas from philosophy, psychology and various art forms, especially performance and theatre.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?

I have not been to the U.S. yet but I hope in the future I can come and visit your beautiful and vibrant city.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nargesrezaian.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/narges.rezaian/
• Other: https://nargesrezaian8.artstation.com/