my persian nose (and other reflections)
This self portrait is a reflection on how Eurocentric beauty standards permeate my perception of my appearance, which I represented with hands that cover up and alter my features. The first hand covers my nose. Rhinoplasty is the most common surgery in Iran, used to morph and hide prominent, characteristically Persian noses like my own. A second hand holds a pair of tweezers plucking my eyebrows, which I often feel the need to shape. I wonder: do I love this non-Anglo feature? Or is any form of alteration still subconsciously influenced by Western beauty standards? After all, ancient Iranian paintings always portray beautiful women as having a unibrow. My naturally curly hair is pulled straight by a third hand to reflect my journey to loving my hair after years of straightening it. A final hand paints eyeliner around my eyes as I reflect on makeup: a form of art? Or alteration?
Oil on canvas, 16x12 inches, 2019