Sound of Hope Mixed Media on Canvas 170x140
Pantea Mahrou’s art invites us into a captivating universe where coded symbols and hidden mysteries ignite the imagination. This month, Occhi Contemporary Art showcases her latest works—an exhibition that beckons audiences to peel back layers of meaning through enigmatic figures like Amlash Jan and his family. Drawing inspiration from ancient narratives and reimagining them for today, Mahrou’s paintings and sculptures pulse with energy, secrets, and the constant dialogue between past and future. In this dynamic space, every piece is an invitation to decode, discover, and experience the present anew. We caught up with Pantea to discuss her work and the exhibition.
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Pantea, it’s a pleasure to host your third exhibition with Occhi. “Decoding Amlash World” immerses viewers in a universe of codes, symbols, and sacred numbers. What first inspired you to explore this secret language in your art, and how did your fascination with these elements begin?
Thank you — it’s always a pleasure to collaborate with Occhi. I’ve always been drawn to history — to that mysterious breeze that flows through time, carrying fragments of forgotten stories. When I study ancient civilizations, I find myself decoding patterns, connections, and symbols, and with each discovery, I feel as though I’m unlocking a secret. This process has always been deeply exciting for me, and it naturally became part of my artistic language.
Through my work, I want to preserve those ancient codes and mysteries — not as distant memories, but as living symbols that speak to our contemporary world. When I create, I don’t want the piece to reveal itself at first glance. I want it to invite the viewer to look again and again — to decode, to question, to feel that same curiosity and wonder I experience while exploring history. In Decoding Amlash World, I’m not only reviving the visual language of our cultural heritage but also awakening that timeless sense of curiosity — a bridge between the past and the modern human spirit.
The character of Amlash Jan and family are central to your narrative. How did Amlash Jan come to life, and what do these figures represent for you personally and artistically?
While I was randomly studying ancient sacred symbols and mythological figures, I came across the image of the Mother Goddess — a divine emblem of fertility, abundance, and creation. Something about her presence immediately drew me in; it felt like she was reaching out from the past, asking to be seen again. I named her Amlash Jan — inspired by the ancient region of Amlash — and from that moment, a deep connection began to form. At first, she appeared in my paintings almost spontaneously, but the more I worked with her, the more I felt her world expanding. It was as if she wanted to return to life — not alone, but with her own family, her own universe.
That’s how The Amlash Family came to life: her partner, their child, the loyal dog, and the golden rooster Zarpako — each carrying its own emotion, story, and symbolic meaning. Today, I feel I am still in the process of growing their world — every new sculpture, painting, or wearable piece adds another layer to their story. This ongoing creation feels alive, evolving with time, memory, and imagination — a universe that keeps unfolding, one secret at a time.
Ancient stories and mythologies clearly influence your work, yet you reimagine them for a contemporary audience. How do you strike the balance between honouring tradition and pushing creative boundaries?
That balance has always been at the heart of my practice. I have a deep respect for ancient stories and mythologies — they hold an incredible energy and wisdom that still resonates today. But for me, it’s never about repeating the past; it’s about reinterpreting it through the lens of the present moment. When I work, I treat these symbols and myths as living organisms — they evolve, they adapt, and they speak differently depending on who listens.
My goal is to translate their essence into a contemporary visual language that connects emotionally with today’s audience, while still preserving the sacred codes and meanings that shaped them. In a way, I see myself as a bridge — carrying fragments of our cultural memory into the future. By blending ancient codes with modern materials, forms, and narratives, I try to keep the spirit of tradition alive while allowing it to breathe in a new, limitless space.
Your paintings and sculptures invite viewers to decode hidden meanings. What role do you believe the audience plays in activating or completing the stories within your art?
For me, the audience is an essential part of the work — almost like the final element that completes it. My pieces are not meant to reveal themselves at first glance; they’re built with layers of meaning, codes, and symbols that invite curiosity and contemplation. I want the viewer to decode the work slowly — to look closely, to question, to sense. Each person brings their own memories, emotions, and interpretations, and that exchange gives new life to the piece. In that way, the artwork becomes a living dialogue — a mirror that reflects both ancient wisdom and the viewer’s inner world. When someone spends time with one of my works and begins to uncover its hidden language, it feels as though the story continues beyond me. That moment of connection — when the viewer becomes part of the decoding — is where the artwork truly comes alive.
Can you share a specific moment or turning point that shaped your journey as an artist, particularly since your last Occhi exhibition?
Since my last exhibition with Occhi, my artistic journey has entered a new and more expansive phase. I’ve been deeply focused on growing The Amlash World — transforming it from a symbolic concept into a vast, living universe. Over time, I began to imagine the Amlash family not only as mythic beings but as cosmic entities existing in a kind of parallel world — one that observes us, the modern human, from its own spiritual perspective. Through my new works, I’ve tried to reveal more of their mysteries — their relationships, their emotions, their love, their cosmic connections, and even the small, playful moments of their existence. Each piece feels like a window into that parallel world, where the sacred and the human coexist in harmony.
To embody this universe in the real world, I created a space called Amlash House — a gallery and a home filled with the energy and spirit of the Amlash family. It’s surrounded by a garden, a place where I truly live with them. This closeness has allowed me to feel their presence more deeply; it’s as though I am constantly expanding their world, discovering new details of their stories, and understanding the ancient messages they wish to preserve and carry into the future. This ongoing dialogue between their world and ours has become my greatest turning point — a continuous act of creation where imagination, memory, and energy merge into one.
The world of Amlash is rich with energy and symbolism. Which artists, writers, or cultural influences have most shaped your approach to constructing this parallel realm?
My influences come from many directions — not only from visual art, but also from history, poetry, and the spiritual heritage of my culture. In the world of Amlash, I draw deeply from everything that has been considered sacred in our tradition — from ancient Persian architecture to the words of our poets and philosophers. The verses of Khayyam, Rumi, and many others who shaped the soul of Persian thought have always inspired me. Sometimes it’s a single line, a timeless phrase like “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds” from Zoroastrian philosophy, or “This too shall pass” — short expressions that carry centuries of wisdom and emotion. I weave these ideas, consciously or intuitively, into the visual language of my works. I’m also fascinated by the geometry and symbolism found in ancient Iranian architecture — the balance, the sacred proportions, and the dialogue between structure and spirit.
For me, architecture and poetry are both ways of expressing inner harmony; both contain codes that connect the human with the divine. So rather than being shaped by a specific artist or movement, my work grows from a continuum — a living conversation with our collective memory, where history, culture, and mythology merge to build the Amlash World.
How do you personally relate to the characters and symbols you create? Are there aspects of your own story woven into Amlash Jan’s universe?
When I create new characters within the Amlash World, I pour a great deal of my own energy and emotions into them. Many of their relationships — the tenderness between the parents and their child, the sense of love and connection that surrounds them — are inspired by moments and feelings from my own life. In that way, the Amlash universe is not something separate from me; it’s an emotional extension of my inner world. I see each of these figures as reflections of different aspects of myself — my questions, my emotions, my search for meaning. Through them, I explore the themes of love, creation, and transformation, but also the balance between human vulnerability and spiritual strength. When I work, I often feel as though I’m building a mirror — one that reflects both the visible and the unseen parts of who I am.
The relationship between me and the Amlash characters is very much alive; it’s a dialogue, a constant exchange of energy. I create them, but they also speak back to me — guiding me, questioning me, and sometimes even reshaping the way I experience the world. Ultimately, I try to fill their universe with everything beautiful that I’ve felt in life — moments of affection, curiosity, and harmony — so that their world becomes a space where the sacred and the emotional coexist.
The interplay between past, present, and future is a recurring theme in your work. How does your art reflect your own views on time, memory, and the evolution of identity?
Time, for me, is not linear — it’s fluid, cyclical, and alive. I’ve always felt that the past, present, and future exist simultaneously, constantly shaping one another. My work grows from this belief. When I paint or sculpt, I don’t just look backward with nostalgia; I enter into a dialogue with time itself. The Amlash World exists in that in-between space — where fragments of ancient memory meet the energy of the present and project themselves into the unknown future. In this world, symbols from the past are not static relics; they are living entities that continue to evolve, just as we do.
Through my art, I try to capture that movement — the way memory transforms, how identity renews itself through every experience. I see identity as something fluid, a story that keeps rewriting itself through time. Each artwork becomes a small act of remembrance and reinvention — a way of saying that what once was, still is, and will continue to be, in new forms.
Since your last exhibition with Occhi Contemporary Art, how has your creative process or artistic direction evolved? What new challenges or discoveries have emerged along the way?
Since my last exhibition with Occhi Contemporary Art, my creative process has become more immersive and introspective. I’ve continued exploring the dialogue between ancient symbolism and contemporary expression, but with a deeper focus on transformation — both material and spiritual. My recent works push the boundaries of texture and form, merging painting, sculpture, and wearable art into a cohesive visual language. Throughout this evolution, I’ve encountered new challenges — particularly the balance between conceptual depth and aesthetic clarity. Yet those challenges have led to exciting discoveries: new materials, experimental techniques, and a more fluid connection between the physical and metaphysical layers of my work. I feel my artistic direction has become more personal, yet more universal — a bridge between timeless human narratives and the world we inhabit today.
The idea of “decoding” is central to this exhibition. What do you hope viewers will take away from their attempts to interpret the codes and mysteries embedded in your work?
The idea of “decoding” is at the heart of my practice — not as a search for one fixed meaning, but as an invitation to journey inward. Each symbol, sign, or gesture within my work acts like a portal, guiding the viewer to connect with layers of history, memory, and emotion that transcend language. I want viewers to experience the act of decoding not as solving a puzzle, but as awakening — to recognize that these ancient codes still live within us. The mysteries embedded in the pieces are reflections of our shared consciousness, fragments of forgotten knowledge waiting to be felt rather than explained.
As an artist working across both painting and sculpture, how do these mediums inform or challenge each other within your creative practice?
In my practice, painting and sculpture evolve together as part of one continuous dialogue. Many of my ideas begin within a painting — a sketch, a gesture, or a symbol — and from there, they transform into sculptural form. Once the sculpture takes shape and gains its own presence, it, in turn, inspires new ideas for paintings. This process is cyclical and organic; each medium constantly influences the other. The wearable sculptures I’ve created are also part of this exchange — extensions of the same universe where everything grows and transforms together. I don’t see painting and sculpture as separate disciplines, but as interconnected dimensions within the world of Amlash, where even the smallest sketch can become the seed of a new being or story.
Looking ahead, what’s next for you? Are there new projects, collaborations, or themes you’re eager to explore in your future work—and how do you see the Amlash world evolving?
My vision for Amlashworld is for it to become a universe that speaks across disciplines — where art, design, fashion, and architecture all find a shared language. I want the Amlash family to grow beyond the walls of galleries and enter everyday life — to become part of a living aesthetic, a way of being. I’m collaborating with leading architects and engaging in international projects that allow this vision to expand in meaningful ways.
In the future, I see Amlashworld evolving through animation, product and fashion design, and even architectural concepts — shaping spaces, stories, and objects that carry its spirit. Ultimately, my dream is to transform Amlashworld into a holistic experience — where its symbols, forms, and energy flow naturally into how we live, move, and imagine the world around us.
Decoding Amlash World runs until November 17th. For more information on the artist and exhibition, please visit occhicontemporaryart.org
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