Shahin Torkzaban: Calligraphic Painting, Abstract Illustration and Contemporary Kilim Design

Shahin Torkzaban — also known by the name Shab boo — is an Iranian graphic artist, illustrator and writer born in Ahvaz, Iran, in 1961. She holds a Master of Arts in Graphics and works across multiple disciplines: calligraphic painting, abstract illustration, modern kilim design, writing, teaching, acting and singing. Her practice moves between ancient Persian visual traditions and contemporary abstract forms, and she describes her work as a personal attempt to translate inner thought and feeling into a visual language.

Torkzaban has exhibited internationally, including in Seoul, South Korea (2025), at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom (2025), and in Osaka, Japan (2001), alongside numerous solo and group exhibitions across Iran.

Personal Statement

For Torkzaban, art is breathing — a means of translating her innermost feelings and deepest thoughts into a visual language. From the moment she discovered the pen and colour, she states that the world of hues, lines and forms became her refuge and inspiration. Her works — whether calligraphic paintings steeped in ancient mysticism, abstract illustrations drawn from her subconscious, or modern kilim designs that evoke the essence of her homeland — explore the relationship between humanity and the universe. Each piece, in her words, invites the audience on a journey into themselves and into a world they may not have yet explored.

She further states that every artwork embodies a part of her soul and life experiences, reflecting not only her vision of the world but years of education, teaching and deep engagement with art. She believes that art possesses a unique power for dialogue that transcends language and culture, and hopes her works serve as a mirror for viewers — allowing them to discover the hidden beauty within themselves and to forge a deeper connection with art.

Artistic Practice and Media

Shahin Torkzaban works across several visual traditions and media, which together form a distinctive and coherent artistic language:

Calligraphic Painting : Paintings that draw on Persian calligraphic traditions, combined with colour and abstract composition. In these works, the letter and the brushstroke operate as both form and meaning, referencing the long visual and spiritual history of Persian script.

Abstract Illustration : Illustrative works developed from the artist’s subconscious, combining line, colour and symbol. These pieces explore inner states, memory and perception rather than literal representation.

Modern Kilim Design : Contemporary designs rooted in the kilim traditions of Iran. In these works, Torkzaban approaches traditional weaving patterns as a living language, translating them into modern visual compositions that evoke the artist’s homeland.

Across all three areas, the artist works with colour, line and form as primary tools, maintaining a coherent visual voice that connects tradition with contemporary abstraction.

Themes and Approach

Recurring concerns in Torkzaban’s work include:

The Relationship Between Humanity and the Universe : Her stated focus is to express the intricate relationship between the human being and the wider world, using symbol and abstract form to suggest connections rather than to illustrate them literally.

Inner Life and Subconscious : Abstract illustrations emerge from the artist’s subconscious — treating image-making as a form of inward exploration rather than external description.

Persian Visual Heritage : Calligraphic painting and kilim design both reference the visual traditions of Iran, but are reworked through a contemporary artistic perspective.

Art as Dialogue : The artist describes art as a form of dialogue that transcends language and culture, positioning her work as a bridge between viewers from different backgrounds.

Professional Background

Shahin Torkzaban holds a Master of Arts in Graphics. Her professional activity spans multiple disciplines, reflecting a broad engagement with visual and performing arts. She has worked as a graphic artist, illustrator and writer, and has also taught art. Alongside her visual practice, she has pursued acting and singing — disciplines that she does not treat as separate from her visual work, but as part of the same exploration of expression and human feeling.

Her educational background in graphics informs the compositional discipline visible across her painting, illustration and design work, where structure, colour and rhythm operate together rather than as separate layers.

Selected International Exhibitions

Torkzaban’s work has been presented in international exhibitions across Asia and Europe:

Dongsung Gallery International Exhibition — Seoul, South Korea (2025)

Lancaster University International Exhibition — United Kingdom (2025)

Osaka International Exhibition — Japan (2001)

In addition to these international presentations, she has held numerous solo and group exhibitions across Iran, where her painting, illustration and kilim design work has been shown to national audiences.

Motivational Statement

In her own words, art is not merely a profession for Torkzaban — it is the essence of her being. With every stroke and every colour, she describes delving deeper into the mysteries of existence, seeking to capture the unspoken connections that bind people together. She invites viewers to join her on this artistic journey, exploring what she calls the unseen beauty of shared humanity.

Shahin Torkzaban continues to work across painting, illustration, design and writing, maintaining a dialogue that crosses cultures and connects with audiences in Iran and internationally.

Shahin Torkzaban FAQ

• Who is Shahin Torkzaban?
  Shahin Torkzaban (also known as Shab boo) is an Iranian graphic artist, illustrator and writer born in Ahvaz in 1961. She holds a Master of Arts in Graphics and works across calligraphic painting, abstract illustration and modern kilim design.
• What media does she work in?
  She works primarily in calligraphic painting, abstract illustration and modern kilim design, and has also worked in writing, teaching, acting and singing.
• What are the main themes in her work?
  Her work explores the relationship between humanity and the universe, inner life and the subconscious, Persian visual heritage, and art as a form of dialogue across cultures.
• Where has she exhibited internationally?
  Her international exhibitions include Dongsung Gallery in Seoul (2025), Lancaster University in the United Kingdom (2025), and the Osaka International Exhibition in Japan (2001), alongside numerous solo and group exhibitions in Iran.
• What is her educational background?
  She holds a Master of Arts in Graphics.
• How can a gallery, curator or collector contact her?
  Professional inquiries can be directed through the contact channels available on her profile, or through BHOWCO.

Art Cologne — The International Platform for Contemporary and Modern Art

For artists working with painting, calligraphic forms, illustration and design, Art Cologne represents one of the most recognised international platforms for modern and contemporary art. Founded in 1967, the fair is held annually at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany, and brings together galleries, curators and collectors from across the world.

Explore the fair’s strategic context and exhibitor ecosystem on BHOWCO:

Art Cologne Trade Fair Overview — BHOWCO

Official Art Cologne Website