MANSFIELD — Art is not a hobby for Omid Shekari.
In fact, he has traveled many miles away from his home in Iran to pursue his work. In 2014, he began his master of fine arts program in Philadelphia. Classes were at Temple University after Shekari graduated from his Iranian school in 2011.
Shekari had an art exhibit which ran Jan 17 through Feb. 10 titled ‘Not Too Far Away’ at the Pearl Conrad Art Gallery at the Ohio State Mansfield campus. On Thursday, he came to town as the exhibition began to close.
Shekari said he is interested in observing socio-political movements and noting the reactions of those moved and shaken as an affect of any and all political actions. One did not need a microscope to observe the myriad of moments falling under the umbrella of political moments this past election cycle, Still Omid said his art does not reflect the movers and shakers, so much as the those who move and are shaken.
“I am inspired by political environments,” he said. “But I don’t want to talk about specific leaders. I want to have language, a relationship among people.”
‘Not Too Far Away’ reflects similarities and differences between Iranian and American populations. Each painting was completed in 2015, so there was no inspiration from the latest election cycle.
“You can’t see any moment with politicians,” he said. “it’s not about them, it’s about the relationships of people. How people react.”
About his collection as a whole, Shekari said he wants to see an emotional connection with the viewers.
“I want them to deeply think about it,” he said. “Connect emotionally, even if it is different than how I feel.”
At least one person did.
Sara Hecker walked around Thursday gazing at the art work.
“You can read so much into it,” she said.
She pointed to a painting of an empty, unkempt morgue bed.
“Like this morgue bed — there’s no people, but implies a story with just one thing. I love that.”
The sophomore art student said she was taking a figure-drawing class and noted how well Shekari is able to create bodies in his art.
“The fact that he doesn’t have to look at models,” she said. “This is all from memory is just fascinating to (see).
“I like it. I don’t know (why). It’s just so different from what we normally see. It’s so ambiguous. There’s not a lot of color; it’s very dull in terms of color. But it’s still very action packed at the same time.”
