Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Most Profound Artist of Them All?

Forget everything you think you know! Middle Eastern artists are shattering expectations and using mirrors to ask the biggest questions about life, the universe, and you

Step into a world where a simple reflection is so much more. In Middle Eastern art, mirrors are powerful tools, carrying centuries of sacred symbolism from glittering shrines into the hands of today’s most innovative artists. They’re cutting, tilting, and reassembling them to completely transform how we see everything!

Let’s meet the visionaries turning reflection into revolution:

Shirin Abedinirad: The Sky Catcher

Shirin creates breathtaking desert installations that blend earth and sky. Her work, Evocation, places mirrors in the sand to create a stunning oasis illusion that actually reflects the heavens! She builds mirrored staircases that reach for the sky, transforming ordinary spaces into a gateway to the sublime. Her art is a beautiful, playful mirage that’s utterly profound.

Evocation. Source: shirinabedinirad.com

Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian: The Geometry Queen

Meet the legendary pioneer who modernized the ancient craft of āyeneh-kāri (mirror mosaics). After a life-changing visit to the dazzling Shah Cheragh shrine, Monir dedicated her life to fracturing light into incredible geometric patterns. Her luminous, kaleidoscopic works are a dance of Islamic geometry and modern abstraction, creating a truly cosmic experience.

Taken from Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian: Infinite Possibility [March-June 2015], Image Courtesy - Flikr

Faisal Samra: The Existential Explorer

Faisal uses reflection as a deep metaphor for existence. For him, art and life are inseparable. His installation, The Dot, made viewers question the very origins of perception and illusion. His work is an endless negotiation between the fragment and the infinite.

Image Souce : arabnews.com

Aref Montazeri: The Storyteller

Aref makes the mirror itself the protagonist! He polishes both sides of his fragments, so the front reflects you while the hidden back tells its own story. Drawing on philosophical concepts, his Immortal Mirror series explores how we construct our identity. His mirrors don’t just show you, they make you part of an unfolding narrative.

Aref Montazeri, Fluid Wall, 2024| Image source: leilahellergallery.com

These artists prove that a mirror is never just a mirror. It’s a portal, a paradox, and a profound invitation to see the world, and yourself, in a whole new light.

Latest Posts

Events
Gate presents “The Power of Now” series — live in Dubai!

This time, it’s Gate’s turn to take the stage in Dubai. As one of the world’s leading crypto exchanges, Gate has officially landed and begun operations in the region

News
Your ONE Photo Could Win You 30,000 QAR (Yes, Really!)

Stop scrolling! That photo on your camera roll could be your ticket to a life-changing photography grant. The Tasweer 2025 Open Call is here and it is looking for you