Grandmother 2017

Curator: The painting before us, "Grandmother" by Reza Rahimi Lasko, completed in 2017, presents us with an intimate portrayal in oil. What are your immediate impressions? Editor: It feels so calm, doesn't it? The muted colours, the stillness of her pose… there’s a deep sense of quiet contemplation, like she's settled into a long, comfortable afternoon. Curator: Indeed. Lasko's use of light contributes significantly to this feeling. Note how the soft light diffuses across the figure, softening the wrinkles and textures. It brings a certain ethereality to the otherwise grounded realism of the subject. The details—the patterned headscarf, the tea glass, the embroidered cushion—aren’t just objects but signifiers, hints towards a lived life, a specific cultural context. Editor: Absolutely. It’s almost like each of these carefully placed items holds a secret story. That small plate of what looks like dried fruit…I wonder, what's her story? There is something profoundly intimate, melancholic, and somehow still very peaceful here, even comforting. Curator: Consider too the composition: the figure is centrally positioned, almost symmetrical, reinforcing a sense of stability and centeredness. The subtle interplay between the patterns in the wallpaper and those on the cushion creates visual interest without disrupting the overall harmony. These repetitions generate a network of signs connecting domestic space and familial history. Editor: I like how you framed it, those elements echoing each other to create that story. Maybe the peace that she has made with her history is what echoes throughout this scene and embraces us when we gaze at the artwork. A lovely homage, wouldn't you say? Curator: I concur, it’s an introspective exploration. Perhaps a statement on temporality itself, capturing a transient moment and fixing it permanently. Editor: I'll carry her gaze with me for a while. She holds centuries within herself, it is touching to have the opportunity to peer.