The Art Clinic

• Please Introduce yourself completely (biography), and state the time and reason for starting your medical and artistic activities.

I officially started my artwork in the third grade of primary school, that is, from the age of 9, with the summer classes of the Calligraphers Association, and then I joined the Calligraphers Association, and until today, I have been doing artwork for about 34 years without a break, 12 years in I went to a class at the Calligraphers Association and learned 4 main scripts at the Calligraphers Association and I can write 20 types of scripts in total which I learned the various techniques on my own. I started calligraphy in 2006 and held the first calligraphy exhibition at the artists’ house (Khane Honarmandan), and until today, I have held 23 solo exhibitions and participated in about 100 group exhibitions and on the other hand, I am the first lightbox executive in calligraphy in Iran, in 2011. In fact, I proposed and bestowed the first lightbox presentation, and with the same process and idea of ​​my lightbox, my works were placed in the international auctions of Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Bonhams, and my works can also be seen in a number of museums in England and the Washington Museum.

Regarding the field of medicine, because I was always the top student and according to Iranian families, I was condemned to study one of the fields of medicine. I entered the field of medicine and received my medical degree from the University of Medical Sciences in Tehran; however, even during my time as a student, I was also engaged in artistic work, and I was selected in all the national student festivals for calligraphy, especially the Thuluth script.

I was also in the advanced classes of the association of calligraphers in the service of first-grade professors such as Professor Amirkhani, Professor Shirazi, Professor Falsafi, Professor Kavoli, Professor Movahed, and Professor Samadi. I was their student and also taught myself calligraphy and worked on various techniques.

Regarding my artistic journey, I was part of the first art therapy group in the country and Shahid Beheshti University in 2007 with Dr. Zadeh Mohammadi, and I worked as a calligraphy therapist. In fact, I created a wave graphic form by combining a series of scripts, which is my own unique form. After my medical course, I continued academic art courses and got a master’s degree in graphic design.

• Creating new concepts in any society faces many challenges and risks. The concept art of your clinic is also completely unique. Please explain this concept to the audience. Where did the initial idea of ​​this concept stem from? What prompted you to combine art and medicine? Also, explain how you went through this path. Does the concept designed by you have an international example? (if any, state the differences)

Regarding the Art Clinic concept, naturally, because it was a new concept that had not been done before either in the world or in Iran, it was a new path. In fact, I tried to build something based on my own dreams, so I dealt with many trials and errors.

However, I was never worried that I couldn’t handle it, but naturally, when a new concept is created, many competitors try to bring it down and stop its growth. Even though this challenge was completely predictable, I did not care and tried my best to keep my relationships friendly with everyone in the medical and artistic fields. I tried to reduce this feeling of competition among us so we could perceive each other as friends. My vision is broader than just competing with peers. I have always believed that the world is so big that there is room for everyone, so I try to keep my positive energy and surround myself with good people, including the friends who are in my circle.

• How does your artistic vision help your business? How do these two fields complement each other? Please describe both the medical and artistic aspects of your activity (therapeutic methods, artistic styles, etc.)

Going back to the story of the Art Clinic, it is a very intriguing idea. The subject of art is clearly separate from a clinic. Let’s see how we can connect these two things in a real way. Beauty procedures in society are not only decreasing but also increasing daily.

The reason is that beauty procedures do not necessarily mean changing your face entirely; sometimes, the beauty procedures we do are aimed at making you look like your old self again. This can be a very beautiful thing since many people do not like growing old, and the matter of aging is not a joyous event for many people. So, day by day, the topic of beauty procedures is becoming more and more popular not only in Iran but also outside of Iran. I see it happening much more than before.

However, many people are afraid of such operations, especially those who want to have a cosmetic procedure for the first time and are confused about its process. Even people with simpler procedures such as gel fillers or injections think that their faces might look different and that change may create further issues.

Moreover, the presence of art has its own advantages. For example, a person entering a clinic and seeing a doctor has created their own art gallery. We implemented this artistic concept in our clinic as well, and we have started covering the walls with calligraphy so that when a person enters, it is as if they are standing in the middle of an art piece. This choice helps decrease the patient’s anxiety and stress. The almost immediate feedback I have received is people’s trust that a person who can create intricate pieces of art can easily handle operations and delicate cosmetic procedures as well.

We can say that our team has an artistic vision.

• Please tell us more about your artistic style in calligraphy on light boxes and more.

If I want to talk about my personal style, as I said, I use different scripts to do calligraphy, and by combining them, I create a form that I call “wave.” My goal is to create an abstract painting that is detailed using words, and it started with a project of 400 works on paper.

When my design improved, I put it on the canvas and also held several exhibitions, and now almost all the works I do are in the same form and script. This form of script is not just a form of writing in my eyes. I believe that its shape and size can be changed based on its background space. but if we want to consider a signature for my artwork that no one else has done, I think my work with the lightbox would be the one.

The lightbox has been used in paintings many times before, and it has contributed to many great artworks, but I had nothing to do with what already existed, as I was trying to create art with my own signature and style. I believe that nobody has used the lightbox with calligraphy before. I added the element of light to my art.

To be honest, it all started when I was doing a bit of mixed media work in my studio, and in the distance, there was a small painting, and behind this work was a chandelier that had a very intense light. In fact, it cast light behind this painting of mine, and I saw how interesting the details of the artwork looked behind the light, so I quickly went to Lalezar Street and bought whatever light I thought would work well and not harm the painting by producing a lot of heat.

I started in the art world completely amateurishly. I just started placing these lights behind different works. At first, the goal was for the element of light to help highlight something in the work, to promote something, and draw people towards it, then I saw that with light, we can experiment with new things; for instance, we can shine yellow light on a canvas which is painted blue with transparent colors. The light will pass through and combine with the paint and turn a blue painting into a green painting.

It was interesting how you could have two different works of art in a single piece, one when the light was off and one when the light was on. I continued this concept, and in the last collection of my light boxes, the light was the main element of the work, that is because without light, you could not see the internal elements of the work at all. In the last exhibition, I tried to have a look at the concept of interior design and to be able to create art that wasn’t limited to a simple canvas on a wall. For example, some of my works, such as The Pendulum of Love (Avang Eshgh), The Phoenix of Love (Simorgh Eshgh), and many others, explored different concepts that I used for my last lightbox creations.

• In your opinion, how does your art clinic change the public’s view of cosmetic procedures? Please explain the initial feedback of the audience and also the feedback you got after getting to know them.

• Considering the popularity of beauty treatments in the world and especially Iran, how do you evaluate the scientific progress of the Iranian medical community in comparison with the world in your field of expertise?

Regarding my art, let me tell you that it is a healer—a healer of the soul, and even of the body.

As I mentioned previously, we were among the first groups of people who worked in the field of art therapy since 1386. I believe that the work of art itself has therapeutic effects, so I think It contributes to reducing stress.

Besides, it matters who the artist of a specific work is. I remember that a dear friend of mine used to go to a clinic in London, and he said that there was a painting by an Iranian professor. Seeing that artwork was the main motivation for him to go there and get his dental work done.

In general, as I mentioned, beauty procedures are being welcomed more and more every day.

In the field of medicine, many things are experimental; even though there is a scientific base for everything, practicality, and experience are also extremely important.

Therefore, Iranian doctors both in the field of beauty and in other fields are experts both in diagnosis and procedures because of the amount of experience they have. For instance, I’ve done about a million botoxes to this day and I can do it even with my eyes closed. Obviously this is not comparable to a person that has done only ten botoxes. It is very interesting to know that we have a lot of Finnish clients at the Finland clinic who do not go to their own doctors and prefer to do their procedures with us.

• You are active in both the medical world and the artistic world at the same time. Can you explain how you balance your time and energy between your medical and artistic pursuits?

As for how I divide my time between medicine and art, the only thing that can justify this is love, and I love both fields, regardless of the financial benefits. Because I love these two fields, my work is not tiring, and I do this work with passion.

Sometimes, I don’t notice the passing of time at all, and naturally, these are not considered work for me. This is my fun, and this is my passion. Therefore, I am removed from many entertainments that people usually have in their lives, and I have no interest in them, so this allows me to spend most of my time with my work.

• What is your plan for the future of the art clinic? Are you looking to expand your idea abroad?

Regarding whether we want to visit other countries, yes, and we will definitely be happy if friends sponsor us. We can implement this concept in different places, and for several reasons, this story can be intriguing for other countries. The story can be very helpful in promoting art and combining art and medicine and encouraging doctors to focus more on what art has to offer in this case. Many entertaining and detailed programs can be arranged for it. Therefore, in the case of culture building in different countries, it can help different societies a lot.

We can train different doctors to be artists as well as doctors and promote the concept of an art clinic.

I believe that Arab countries and many European countries would be very good options for this idea. Paris and many cities in Italy could be especially good places for this concept.

And maybe even Switzerland, for example, America (New York), or Los Angeles might be very good alternatives, any place that is suitable for this work.

We do not take the gallery lightly; we look at it from a very detailed and professional viewpoint.

The gallery is not supposed to be just a few works on the wall. We are going to have different art events, and we ask our clients to express themselves, attend, and see the performance of artistic work. One thing that helps businesses stay strong and survive is innovative concepts that have something unique to offer. Certainly, doctors who work in this field must be completely up to date with their scientific field. However, other than that, an artistic and tasteful viewpoint in the field of aesthetic surgery matters.

• Please give a complete description of specialized cosmetic services in your clinic.

Whatever the aesthetic surgery field has to offer, we can provide it in our clinic.

Many different operations are done by my clients and me, such as injecting various types of rejuvenation agents, injecting Botox, injecting various fillers, facial contouring, Insertion of thread lift, and rejuvenation works such as hypnotherapy, carboxytherapy, mesoneedling such as PRP, PRGF and injection of mesotherapy for hair growth, stimulation of hair growth, prevention of hair loss and rejuvenation of the neck and the chest area, even skin rejuvenation of women in the bikini area and the like. The work we do in this collection is completely professional.

But what we mostly focus on is face and body contouring. For example, fillers in an individual’s hip dips or filler injections around the body are one of those things that we are very interested in because of their artistic nature.

We have professional plastic surgeons in the clinic. Therefore, we have consultations for all types of surgeries.

We have otorhinolaryngologists for nose jobs, facelifts, and full and half facelifts. I am pleased to offer outpatient surgeries such as eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty, fat injections, and lipomatous, and I am pleased to tell you that mammoplasty, abdominoplasty, and even nutritional diets are actually required in our clinic. We also have devices used for weight loss and fitness operations.

Overall, in the aesthetic operations field, there is nothing we cannot offer, and all procedures are performed in our hospital.

• What is the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and… on your specialized processes? Express your assessment of the development of these technologies.

Artificial intelligence can help immensely in our field.

One thing that I personally think is very beneficial, and we will hopefully be using it in our clinic soon, is using AI to show patients what they will look like once their desired procedure is done.

For instance, if a patient wants lip fillers, we can show them what their face will look like after they get them.

Artificial intelligence and technology as a whole are, in any case, an integral part of today’s life; otherwise, we will definitely fall behind the competition.

• Do you have any final comments?

Finally, I would like to thank everyone: dear Amir, who kindly managed this interview; dear Reza, who is going to do all the work related to the magazine; and dear Babak and Elham, who were the link to our acquaintance. I hope for great days, new ideas, and partnerships.

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