Mir Mola was born in 1978 in Ramsar, Iran. He received his BA in “hand-woven carpets design” in 2000 in Isfahan and his master’s degree in “handicraft” in 2006 in Tehran. Presently, with the aim of supplying high quality hand-woven materials, he runs Soraya Gallery in Tehran where many hand-made artworks are on display. Together with his partners, he has set up workshops in different provinces of Iran including Khorasan, Azarbaijan, Kordestan, etc. in which local people are trained and then hired to weave carpets and rugs. All the weaving is carried out in line with weaving characteristics of the regions. Supervised by the central office in Tehran, the workshop is managed by one of the locals. This has resulted in an impressive variety in weaving design, pattern, and techniques. The materials used in all works are a hundred percent natural. Yarns are hand-spun by means of traditional techniques and dyed organically through a thousand-year-old method. Each level is natural and done by hand. Along with pursuing his academic degrees, Mir Mola studied traditional Iranian arts under several prominent teachers in Isfahan and Tehran. He knew all along that in order to accomplish his objectives and create what serves to manifest the uniqueness of his art in connection with its historical roots, he had to focus on literature, the ou nding Iranian art. Later on, not only did Persian literature prove to be a glowing light to show him the way but also turned into a significant element of his designs. In his estimation, five years after graduating from Isfahan University, he managed to create the first classic design of Isfahan carpet in a distinctive style with a personal signature. In the following years, pressing on with carpet design he was inspired by Persian carpet patterns, nomadic weave, rich Persian literature and eminent Iranian poets. The combination of them all, against a backdrop of familiarity with felt, which vividly demonstrates his fascination with modern and contemporary art, propelled him toward novel ideas and he succeeded in exquisitely interweaving them as felt. As a result of his dedication to what he had learned and his observational understanding of art he stepped onto a totally abstractive and different setting in the process of design and weaving carpets. On the back of persistent work on felt and also avid interest in fresh methods of carpet weaving, he began to devise a new technique of weaving gelims/kilims and rugs which were merely woven subjectively until then. Typography on carpets and gelims/kilims and combining gelims/kilims and carpets through this method was the accomplishment of this artistic and conceptual period of his life. After this, he started to work as a designer and consultant at large carpet manufacturing companies in Iran. This helped him acquire greater familiarity with the world carpet market and
learn about modern techniques of weaving, composition, and manufacturing carpets around the world. What I believe is: Considering: -my familiarity with traditional carpet-weaving methods as well as Iranian and Islamic typography, -tireless work on woven artworks such as carpets, rugs, felts, and gelim/kilim rugs, -also influenced by Iranian Gnosticism and literature, and intriguing ancient images and patterns, and a wide variety of weaves and natural materials of every region, And most importantly: -improvisation in weaving, the way these hand-made artworks are developed is like traversing an untrodden path, entering uncharted territory and strikingly different from the usual urban Persian carpets. Now after many years and influenced by contemporary art, I am one of the few artists in the carpet-weaving history of Iran who artistically express themselves in a whole new

Mir Mola Soraya 1978, Ramsar, Iran

Education 2009: BA Miras University, Tehran, Iran, B.A. in Handicraft 2002: BA Handmade Carpets, Azad University, Esfahan, Iran 1999: AA Traditional Iranian Arts, Soureh University, Tehran, Iran 1996: Diploma, Wooden Arts School, Shahsavar, Iran

Solo Exhibitions: 2018: Mirmola by Reza , Paris 2017: Khak Gallery , Tehran 2017: Participated in Beirut Design week as a Carpet Designer 2016: Shirin Gallery, NewYork 2015: Artlab Gallery, Beirut 2014: Daralfonon Gallery,Kuwait 2014: Aran plus Gallery,Tehran,Iran 2013: Daralfonon Gallery,Kuwait 2013: The Mine Gallery ,Dubai 2012: Treasury of Yazdi Art, Yazd, Iran 2008: Homa Gallery, Tehran, Iran 2004: Seyhoun Gallery, Tehran, Iran

Select Group Exhibitions: 2014: Design me (contemporary design from the middle east)New york,USA 2013: Iranian Artists’ Forum, Tehran Iran 2012: Charkhesht Ceramic Artists, Iranian Artists’ Forum, Tehran, Iran

Professional Experiences: Senior Iranian Classic Carpet Designer in Mashhad Carpet Company, Setareh Kavir Carpet Company, Almas e Kavir Carpet Company, Shonher Carpet Company, Diba Carpet Company, Heidarian Carpet Company, Mashhad Ardehal Carpet Company, Berelian Carpet Company and more…

Cooperation as an expert and referee in Iranian handicrafts and carpets competitions.

Interview Cover magazine London , 2017

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Collaboration in compiling the book National Treasure of Iranian Carpet as a researcher and expert in the field of production and history of Iranian felt, 2012