Pantea Karimi
Pantea Karimi and Andy Muonio are painters and printmakers with different approaches to form and color yet each working with the human relationship to the environment, history, the archive, and memory.
Pantea Karimi’s work is an exploration of medieval and early modern scientific manuscripts, particularly, Persian, Arab and European and the long-term exchange of knowledge across these cultures. Her current body of work concentrates on medieval medicinal botanical manuscripts. By revisiting these manuscripts through the lens of art, Karimi highlights the visual elements of the botanical manuscripts as well as the plants’ healing properties and current human connection to the natural elements. She uses silkscreen, ink, watercolor or graphite on paper as well as wood, velum and fabric to create unique visual interpretations of the scientific concepts and ideas presented in the manuscripts.
Teamed for the stARTup Art Fair, Karimi’s and Muonio’s work present distinct styles that both contrast and compliment: Karimi’s bold forms using screen prints and limited palette are a counter-point to Muonio’s modulation of full color and form. This counter-point is softened through the use of organic motifs by both artists.