MEET THE ARTIST

LALEH MOSTOFI

"My work brings me personal peace and revelations. Art is a trigger for emotions. With words and maxims, the brain is guided."

LALEH

LALEH MOSTOFI

Calligrapher, Livarot Pays D'Auge (14)

Laleh shares her experiences, her rich and complex story: her path to calligraphy

See his Artist pageAll Canvases

Tell us your story, how did your vocation come to you?

I was born in Iran, the land of great calligraphy masters. This art is part of my culture, but I haven't studied it. I'm self-taught.

I have had diverse professional experiences in my life. After my university studies at the Sorbonne, I quickly left the corporate world, seeking more freedom in my professional practice.

My life experience is rich because I belong to a generation of "uprooted" people.
I left Iran following the Islamic Revolution at the age of 12. My country of origin endured eight years of war (against Iraq). My adult life in Paris has had its ups and downs. Like many, I question the meaning of life.

I am now a therapist in Paris. I guide my clients in their quest for well-being and wisdom through meditative reflection.
It was in the course of my work that calligraphy imposed itself on me, as if it were obvious.

The messages I calligraph are a continuation of my work as a therapist.
My creations offer the observer a "mental training". Each message is a theme for meditation.

How would you describe your style, your artistic approach, in a few words?

In the field of personal development, the process of transforming the mind is a long one. It requires the anchoring of new principles and beliefs.
Repetition is a very powerful anchoring technique. Repeatedly writing words and maxims resonates in the mind like mantras and opens up a world of possibilities.

My work brings me personal peace and revelations. Art is a trigger for emotions. With words and maxims, the brain is guided.
He reacts without bias. It's very powerful. Regarding existential questions, I like the idea that my creations can reveal things.

As for my style, it's entirely personal. I don't come from an art background. I haven't studied calligraphy. I describe my work as "non-academic" and "free."

I have my own references in calligraphy (particularly Persian). I really like Japanese art in general and minimalism. I've always been fascinated by beautiful scripts (Latin and Persian).

By nesting and layering the messages, reading sometimes requires more attention. I really like this game!

I am constantly searching for a balance between the harmony of the letters and a composition that seems coherent to me. It's easy to end up scribbling!

Beauty is an essential principle in my work.

What themes or subjects inspire you most in your work?

I do calligraphy. So there's no "theme" like in painting, for example. The themes in my work relate to the subjects I address.

All existential values ​​and human qualities inspire me. These are, of course, the topics I address with my clients as a therapist. My messages are often very simple.
I write them with particular "attention" to give them more strength.

Recently I've been working on "series," notably on "wisdom" and "love," fascinating themes. They are complementary messages, in small formats.
Together, they constitute a more comprehensive reflection on the subject.

How do you work?

I work behind a desk. It could be in Paris, Normandy, or Tehran.

I draw my inspiration primarily from my reading, in various fields such as classical French literature, philosophy, psychology, and Persian poetry. I have several notebooks where I jot down ideas, phrases, and quotes.
I always read with a pencil in my hand.

I choose a word or a phrase. I practice writing it by repeating it. It's very calming.

This is the first stage of my work where I try to possess the words, to appropriate them mentally but also in their sometimes distorted form.
I play with letters, in 2 or 3 languages: French, English, and Persian.
I then adopt a form of writing and once I have mastered it, I wait for the creative moment to call me.

I then have a ritual. I spread out on my table all my notebooks, my calligraphy pens, brushes and India ink, my drawing sheets in all formats, my writing drafts, some old creations.

And here I go!

Do you have a particular technique, a specific expertise? Without revealing all your secrets, have you developed your own methods and techniques?

I use calligraphy pens a lot because they give me more creative possibilities, for example, in layering words. I obviously use India ink with different brushes (even paintbrushes). The traditional calligraphy pen isn't suitable for my current work. I write quickly. That pace isn't possible with it.

I use Canson paper. I don't use any stylistic effects with the paper. What matters to me is the content (the message) and the harmony of the composition.

My expertise lies in my writing. It's my uniqueness.

Tell us about your daily life, your constraints, your joys, your successes…

My daily life is divided between my work as a therapist, my family life and my artistic activity.

I take great care of my mother. Family is my source of joy (and sometimes sadness).

I divide my time between Paris, Normandy, and the Île de Ré. I love nature and dream of settling in the countryside. I travel to Iran twice a year. It's very inspiring for me. In Tehran, I stay in my father's office (he passed away a long time ago), which we've kept. There, I experience strong emotions, a mixture of pride, nostalgia, and sometimes even sadness. I return from these trips deeply inspired and always with many questions about the meaning of my life.

As for success, for me it's about being bold and taking initiative in life, living different experiences. Which is what I've done. So I consider myself to have had a successful life so far!

Do you have a message you'd like to share, or anything else you'd like to say?

My message echoes what I just said! Be bold and don't be afraid of life.

What must be avoided above all else is regret.

See his Artist pageAll Canvases

SOME PIECES BY THE ARTIST

  • Oeuvre artististique de calligraphie réalisée à la main par l'artiste
1 1

Laleh Mostofi

Start over / Again

€600,00
€600,00
Sale Sold out
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
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  • Oeuvre artististique de calligraphie réalisée à la main par l'artiste
1 1

Laleh Mostofi

Illumination (Enso)

€400,00
€400,00
Sale Sold out
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
View full details
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