Simultaneous Exhibition - Rashid Diab, Olivia Pendergast, Anthony Okello
Hani Mansourian
One Off is pleased to present
Hani Mansourian
The Second Life of a Nairobi Tree
Opening Saturday, 26 June - 10am to 4.30pm
Ends 25 July 2021
Hani Mansourian
The Second Life of a Nairobi Tree
Opening Saturday, 26 June - 10am to 4.30pm
Ends 25 July 2021
About the exhibition
Hani Mansourian is a wood enthusiast born and raised in Iran, a country rich in culture and history. He has experienced war, political turmoil and displacement. Since he left Iran, 15 years ago, he has worked and lived in many countries, including several African nations, where his day job is working to protect children affected by natural and man-made crises. The intangible and long-term nature of his work has left him craving tangible, if small, achievements; that a polished piece of carved wood can provide.
Hani was originally trained as an engineer and has always had a knack for making things out of "nothing." Braeden, Hani's partner, has brought her artistic sensibilities into the mix and helped Hani unleash his creativity. She gives Hani the cue and Hani runs with it. They work in tandem. Braeden is the eye and Hani is the hand.
Since the couple moved to Nairobi in 2018, Hani has been making furniture in his spare time. As of early 2020, Hani began picking up tree stumps from the side of the road with the ambition of giving these magnificent old trees a second life. He began to carve them into functional art pieces that can occupy a space in almost any home. Over the past year and half, he has created numerous pieces from a variety of local woods. These pieces are almost entirely carved by hand, with very limited intervention from machines. He has had the privilege of having worked with a few talented 'fundis' in the process.
Hani was originally trained as an engineer and has always had a knack for making things out of "nothing." Braeden, Hani's partner, has brought her artistic sensibilities into the mix and helped Hani unleash his creativity. She gives Hani the cue and Hani runs with it. They work in tandem. Braeden is the eye and Hani is the hand.
Since the couple moved to Nairobi in 2018, Hani has been making furniture in his spare time. As of early 2020, Hani began picking up tree stumps from the side of the road with the ambition of giving these magnificent old trees a second life. He began to carve them into functional art pieces that can occupy a space in almost any home. Over the past year and half, he has created numerous pieces from a variety of local woods. These pieces are almost entirely carved by hand, with very limited intervention from machines. He has had the privilege of having worked with a few talented 'fundis' in the process.
Preview of Works
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Exhibition openings are usually on the last Saturday of every month, excluding December.
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