Dowlatshahi, Bijan

Made while Dowlatshahi was in architecture school, this framed collage-like work combines diverse found objects in a single composition. While the piece includes projecting elements, the artist understood it as part of a larger effort to make art that was multi-layered but not necessarily three-dimensional. The work is multi-layered not only literally but also in its narrative—each of the elements has a unique history as a found object. For example, the velvet scraps and papers inscribed with budget calculations came from a place of business. In discussing this work, Dowlatshahi spoke of attempting to understand the thought process of the writer and the logic behind the budget. Viewers repeat that process in examining it. Such found elements—not readily understood in the same way by each individual—create distinct experiences for the original creator, the artist, and the viewer.