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The Void Cafe Series (2004-14)

A collection of mixed-media, illustrative artworks for my short stories

inspired by Persian miniature visual language,

postmodern literature and cubism style.

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NeginEhtesabian, the void cafe, neginete, neginete art, iran art, iranian artist, middle eastern art, iran illustration, cafe art, art about cafe, cafe in tehran, iran cafe, cafe illustration, middle eastern women artists, iranian female artist, women art, middle east illustration, cafe hich, hich, void, surreal illustration, shadows, starbucks, cafe noire, the most famous cafe ine the world, iranian artist society, iran artists house
NeginEhtesabian, the void cafe, neginete, neginete art, iran art, iranian artist, middle eastern art, iran illustration, cafe art, art about cafe, cafe in tehran, iran cafe, cafe illustration, middle eastern women artists, iranian female artist, women art, middle east illustration, cafe hich, hich, void, surreal illustration, shadows, starbucks, cafe noire, the most famous cafe ine the world, iranian artist society, iran artists house

The Void Cafe, series of 3, 2008, 50 in 50, mixed media, Negin Ehtesabianhas been shown in

 "The Cafe'" group exhibition, Shenakht gallery, Tehran, Iran 2016

The Void Cafe series

Technique: Mixed-media (pencil, pen, gouache, found material and magazine paper collage, digital edit)

This series of works is about this combination of modern life with traditional values in societies and families, the paradox, struggle, confusion, and –of course- the beauty it creates.

According to the appreciation and love she has for Iranian traditional art, the miniature is one of those that has a big influence on her style. Especially when it comes to its exceptional perspective rules, use of colors, being decorative, and its extreme attention to detail. She uses its dynamic visual language to reconcile traditional values with the contemporary moment and the particular complexities of our times. 

This series also reflect the loneliness and solitude that people feel in today’s lifestyle, no matter how busy around them is, and no matter how many friends they seem to have, their real best friends actually are their mobile phones and social media is the first place they go to when feeling lonely, to express their feelings, to share experiences, successes, life events, and to discuss thoughts. Sometimes it seems it doesn't matter who is on the other side hearing/seeing them, but it becomes a monolog people talking to themselves, and sometimes it seems it continues in real life too, and even when they are sitting in front of each other in a cafe, or at the table at home, that solitude continues and everyone is performing their own monologs without actually hearing each other.

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Nostalgia cafe 2005
From The Void Cafe series
Illustration for my short stories
Mixed media: pencil, paper collage, and digital edit
*Was exhibited in Shabtab exhibition no.4 at Azad Art Gallery, Tehran 2018
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This series of artwork has been shown in:

2019     -Colorful Generations2, the second Shirin gallery Annual Illustration Exhibition, curated by Shirin Partovi, Tehran

2018     -Klimt’s Kiss for no.4, group multi-media art, and installation exhibition, Curated by Elham

                 Zare’ Nejad, Dena Gallery, Tehran

               -Paper Yalda, ECO cultural center, Curated by Somayeh Alipour, Tehran, Iran

2017     -Mementos, Dedicated to Tooran Mirhadi, Vista gallery, Tehran

               -"Poetical, Passing of Dream", curated by Keyvan Asgari, Laleh art gallery, Tehran

2016     -The Cafe', Shenakht Cafe Art gallery, Tehran, Iran

                -Illustration Week's group exhibition of the Society of Iranian Illustrators, Momayes Gallery, Iran

                  Artists' House, Tehran

2006     -The Annual illustration Book of Iran in Iran Artists' House, Art Garden, Tehran/ Iran

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A scene of The Void Cafe Animation/ Cut out, based on my short Stories "Afalbatia"  2006

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