Dandelion and Wishes: A Unique Resin Wall Art Collection

Abstract Art Meets Sculpture in Mahnaz Karimi's Innovative Design

Karimi's goal with this artwork is to spark the idea of idealism and happiness in the modern world. The dandelion, symbolizing happiness for children, represents a world without war. In a beautiful gesture, the entire collection will be donated as a peace wall art to UNESCO on September 21, the International Day of Peace, when the dandelions reach the number 195, representing the countries in the world.

What sets "Dandelion and Wishes" apart is not only its artistic concept but also its installation. The pieces are strategically installed to convey a suspension and floating feeling, enhancing the overall aesthetic. The color palette consists of gray, white, and gold. White represents the color of dandelions, gray adds dimension and shades, and gold reflects sunlight, creating a captivating interplay of light and shadow.

The production process for this design involves a combination of powdered pigments, paste pigments, and ink colors mixed with resin hardener and epoxy resin. The mixture is then poured into silicon molds, with three layers of resin used to achieve better shades and volume in the plates. After the resin becomes elastic, the plates are carefully removed from the molds and shaped by hand to create the desired forms and depths, resulting in each piece being unique in shape and dimension.

The "Dandelion and Wishes" collection features pieces with diameters of 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, and 50 cm. The overall size of the collection varies depending on the number of pieces installed. The current configuration, titled "Dandelion and Wishes," measures 3 m x 1.5 m.

Installation of the pieces offers flexibility in depicting different ideas and concepts. Fasteners with a length of 10 cm are used to enhance the sense of dimension and light reflections. The design project began in December 2019 in Tehran and was completed in January 2020, with each piece taking 24 hours to dry. The entire project will be finished by September 2020, ready for donation to UNESCO.

Throughout the design process, Karimi conducted extensive research on various pigment colors, epoxy resin, molds, and tools. She also utilized applications and software such as Circle Cutter, InstaSize, Inshot, and Painter to refine her artistic vision.

The creation of "Dandelion and Wishes" presented its fair share of challenges. Transforming resin from flat paintings and trays into three-dimensional artworks required innovative thinking and experimentation. Additionally, determining the best installation method to convey the intended message posed another creative hurdle for Karimi.

As a testament to its excellence, "Dandelion and Wishes" received the Bronze A' Design Award in the Fine Arts and Art Installation Design category in 2020. This prestigious award recognizes designs that demonstrate outstanding creativity, technical skill, and resourcefulness, contributing to improvements in quality of life.

Experience the captivating beauty and thought-provoking message of "Dandelion and Wishes" as it combines the realms of art, sculpture, and design in a truly unique and inspiring way.