Artists link past with present

Kwinana artists Soma Datta and Shokoofeh Azar are inviting the community to join them in celebrating the beauty of multiculturalism at their first art exhibition Concatenations.

Mrs Datta, who moved to Perth from India in 2007, said the exhibition showcased artworks which linked memories of their past lives with their present lives.

"The title of the exhibition, Concatenations, comes from how we are creating links, in Shokoofeh's context with Iran and Australia through miniature art, and for me it was linking my Indian background with my new background that I now have in Australia," she said.

Mrs Datta said she bumped into Mrs Azar in the Fremantle markets where they instantly bonded and their similar views later blossomed into the idea of an art exhibition.

"We started sharing our stories of how we came here and our perceptions of what is beautiful in Australia, and how we project our past identities onto Australian culture and find beauty in familiar things in our current context that remind us of home," she said.

Her works showcase strong colours and mix Indian culture and henna designs with touches of Australian images.

Mrs Azar, previously a journalist in Iran, moved to Perth in 2011 and turned her attention to her teenage desire to become an artist, recently completing her certificate four in visual arts.

"Here, my English was not good, so I thought what can I do?" she said.

"So I tried art again and it has helped me to express myself."

She said her paintings were symbolic, highlighting her love of nature, Persian traditions, and Australia. "Australia is a multicultural country and it makes it very easy to love it, because all the countries from around the world are here and they bring their backgrounds to this country," she said. It creates a rainbow of cultures and it is really beautiful and special."

Concatenations will be launched at Rockingham Art Centre, 11 Kent Street, on Friday, June 19 at 6.30pm.