‘Women and Sofas’: Hope in Stagnant Space

TEHRAN -- Maryam Darvish, a young artist whose paintings exhibited in Golestan and Vali art galleries have drawn attention, is also recognized due to her years of serving as the visual arts editor for the Iranian Arts News Agency, making her a familiar figure in the visual arts community.

Recently, in a collaborative project between Vesta color and Mojdeh Gallery, she participated by presenting a piece featuring Vesta’s colors. The artwork, part of her series “Women and Sofas,” was created using Vesta products on a 100x80 cm canvas in 2024.
Hamidreza Shafiei, director of Vesta Colors, expressed his satisfaction with the eye-catching artwork made using Vesta colors. He also thanked Darvish for participating in this project.
“In my view, the painting ‘Women and Sofas’ is a social work with attractive artistic characteristics. At first glance, we encounter a type of contemporary figurative painting. By removing the subject’s face, the artist has expanded the work into different dimensions—a piece that appears elegant on the surface but is bitter and piercing at its core,” he said.
“From a sociological perspective, this work addresses the limitations surrounding women. Aesthetically, however, its simplicity and delicacy in execution make it a compelling piece. This painting is not only an image but also a narrative of feminine experiences in the home and society.”
Shafiei said the artist’s strong hand in design, her skill in the hyperrealistic painting style—visible even in the wrinkles of the sofa under the subject’s right foot and the folds of clothing—and creating a contemporary work with minimal visual elements are among the work’s successes.
Regarding the color palette of the piece, Shafiei said, “It seems Maryam Darvish has used a combination of Vesta oil and acrylic paints, creating a soft and velvety texture. The combination of these two techniques allows for the formation of layered colors and subtle contrasts.”
One of the most significant features of the painting’s colors is the contrast between warm and cool tones. The blue jeans fall into the category of cool tones and contrast with the warm tones of the skin and the gentle beige background. This contrast accentuates the form of the legs and emphasizes the subject’s figure. The gray background and neutral furniture, alongside the warm skin tones and blue clothing, create a balance between warmth and coolness that contributes to a visually calm and balanced space.
Shafiei said ‘Women and Sofas’ speaks to the monotony of women’s lives. 
“Depression and critique resonate within it, yet the presence of a green plant in the corner of the image, contrasting with the surrounding neutral tones, becomes a symbol of life and, indeed, hope in this stagnant space.”