Rashin Kheiriyeh
“Two Parrots”
A Solo Exhibition and Book Launch by Rashin Kheiriyeh
September 9 – October 4, 2014
Opening: Tuesday, September 9, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Daily Viewing: Tuesday – Saturday, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Shirin Gallery NY is delighted to present “Two Parrots”, a solo exhibition and book launch by Rashin Kheiriyeh on September 9th, 2014. Two Parrots focuses the recently published bookwork of the same name and will be presented alongside original illustrations.
From The Washington Post review by Allie Ghaman:
The 13th-century Persian poet Rumi tells us if you love something, you should set it free, unless it has already beguiled you and escaped on its own. In her first U.S. publication, the picture book “Two Parrots,” Arlington-based Iranian-American illustrator and writer Rashin Kheiriyeh reimagines Rumi’s tale of a pet parrot yearning to fly the coop.
The plot is simple: A friend from India gives a Persian merchant a pet parrot, which the merchant lavishes with presents and fine foods. However the parrot desires only freedom and a return to his flock. Rather than waiting on a change of heart from the merchant, the bird takes matters into his own talons.
Kheiriyeh believes that by keeping a story short, happy and funny, children’s literature can pass messages between generations. Having worked on children’s books in 10 different countries, Kheiriyeh says this approach is universal.
The vibrant illustrations and artwork in the show are painted on handmade paper procured during a recent trip to India as it reminded her of the clay and hay construction materials used in older Iranian homes.
Rashin Kheiriyeh is an internationally recognized, award-winning illustrator, animator, and painter who has illustrated 45 children's books in countries such as France, Italy, Spain, South Korea, India and Iran. She has received 50 national and international awards for the books and animations including recently being selected for the Honor List of IBBY 2014. She won the New Horizon Award from Bologna Book Fair, Italy and the Golden Apple Award at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia and received the Comic Contest ‘best character designer’ award from China Biennial 2012. Born in Khoramshar, Iran, Kheiriyeh earned her M.F.A. in Graphics from Alzahra University and has also attended The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City. She resides in Washington, D.C.