Ghazaal Nasiri

Ghazaal Nasiri (b. 1999, Shiraz, Iran) is a visual artist living and working in Oslo, Norway. She studied for her bachelor's degree in painting at the Shiraz University of Arts in Iran and received an M.F.A. at the National Academy of Arts in Oslo.

Ghazaal’s artistic practice is rooted in drawing, embroidery, and traditional craftsmanship, often merging mythical storytelling with personal history. Through her work, she explores themes of cultural memory, psychological trauma, and the lingering effects of suppressed emotion. These themes often emerge instinctively, shaped by the materials she chooses and the slow, repetitive gestures of making. As an Iranian immigrant, myth is not only a reference from her upbringing but also a framework through which she navigates and expresses the complexities of identity, silence, and loss in the present.

"avas e parandegan"

Avaz e parandegan Inspired by the 12th-century Sufi poem منطق الطیر (The Conference of the Birds) by Attar of Nishapur, this work explores the mythical journey of the birds in search of the Simorgh (سیمرغ), the majestic, elusive phoenix (ققنوس). Guided by the hoopoe( هد هد), the birds cross seven valleys of longing, fear, love, and annihilation. In the end, only a few arrive, only to realize that the Simorgh they sought was nothing other than themselves, a reflection of their collective being.

Drawing from this allegory, my work weaves mythical storytelling with personal and collective histories.

My practice is rooted in drawing, embroidery, and traditional craftsmanship. These themes often emerge instinctively, shaped by the materials I choose and the slow, repetitive gestures of making.  As an Iranian immigrant, myth is not only a reference from my upbringing but also a framework through which I navigate and express the complexities of identity, silence, and loss in the present.

GHAZAAL´S CONNECTION TO GRORUDDALEN

My connection to Groruddalen began three years ago when I first moved to Norway to study my master’s degree. I stayed with a friend in the area while searching for a collective to live in, and those first days marked the beginning of my journey in a new country. This August, I will return to Groruddalen to begin working in my new studio at Romsås Centre. After graduating and completing a residency at Kunstnernes Hus, this studio marks an important new chapter for me, my first studio as a self-employed artist. For me, Groruddalen represents new beginnings, and I would love to contribute to the cultural life of this vibrant and diverse neighborhood.

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