We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mahsa Biglow. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mahsa below.

Alright, Mahsa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

My mother is my hero and an extraordinary example of resilience as an Iranian woman who has continuously confronted and challenged patriarchy. At the age of thirteen, she was forced into marriage as a child bride to an older man, enduring an abusive relationship and domestic violence until she was able to divorce. Following her separation, she resisted immense societal pressure from her father and community to remarry quickly, holding her ground for twelve years until she met my father. During this time, she worked from home as a talented tailor, supporting herself and even her siblings. Through her example, I have learned the importance of fighting for my goals, understanding that being born and raised in a society structured by gender apartheid does not define who I am as a woman. Her journey is a testament to courage and determination.

Mahsa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a visual artist and product designer. I come from “the global south”, the middle east, and I have a profound interest in history and politics. My home country, Iran, has been a battle ground (both metaphorically and literally) for hundreds of years. And my chosen country, US, has been one way or another, a figure in this chaotic scene. The intersection of technology and media with my interests in history and politics forms the core of my artistic practice. I have dedicated my work to exploring these themes through storytelling, oral history, folklore narratives, found footage, coding, and digital remnants. I create works that span various mediums, including video, sound, performance, and spatial installations.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I moved to the US in 2017 my practice had to make a drastic pivot. I did not have access to the same audience and resources. Additionally, I used to rely heavily on the common knowledge and context and would use Farsi language’s potentials and play with it’s poetic characteristics very often.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes, I was very poor when I first moved here and I didn’t know about the many resources and fundings that are available for artists in need.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mahsabiglow.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mahsa_biglow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahsabiglow/

Image Credits

All images courtesy of the artist, ©Mahsa Biglow