This ongoing project began during my Workaway exchange in Vancouver, where I created a series of paintings and site-specific murals in collaboration with homeowners. Tailored to their unique spaces, these works merge contemporary art, interior design, and architecture, reflecting the personal stories, tastes, and aspirations of their hosts.
Through dialogue with each homeowner, I conceptualized and executed art pieces that harmonize with the architectural context of their homes. Each work considers elements such as light, spatial dynamics, and color palettes, transforming living environments into personalized galleries. These thoughtful art interventions not only bring aesthetic sophistication but also foster an emotional and intellectual connection between the collectors and their spaces.
This project is ongoing, and I welcome opportunities to collaborate with hosts in new locations. By combining art creation with cultural exchange, these projects offer a unique way to explore artistic practice while enriching the spaces and lives of those I work with.
“If you’re interested in hosting and collaborating on a unique art project for your space, let’s connect!”
Title: Dance of Moonlight
Artist: Mohsen Veysi
Medium: Wall Paint
Size: 243 x 285 cm, 95.67 x 112.20 inches
Location: Private collection, Lake Errock, BC, Canada
Year: 2024
“Dance of Moonlight” draws inspiration from the view of the sky and moon as seen from Virginia Gillespie’s home. After a conversation with Virginia about the moon, poetry, and art, I conceived this mural based on a poem by the Persian poet Omar Khayyam and its English translation.
My artistic process revolves around blending visual and verbal elements, merging drawing, poetry, calligraphy, and painting. I integrate Persian and Latin calligraphy to visualize poems in both their original and translated forms, showcasing the process of transculturation through the fusion of different languages and calligraphic styles.
Calligraphy, as described by Dick Higgins as an “intermedia” that bridges literature and visual arts, plays a crucial role in my work. It allows me to transform poetry into visual form, not constrained by traditional rules but used freely to enhance the poetic and visual experience.
Khayyam’s poem reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of savoring the present. It encourages us to find joy in the moment, despite the inevitability of death, symbolized by the moonlight over graves.
“Dance of Moonlight” visualizes this poem by combining colorful, dynamic words with the view of Lake Errock and the sky. The mural’s vibrant colors and gestural text illustrate the cyclical nature of time, constantly repeating and evolving, and embody the transcultural fusion of Persian and Latin calligraphy.
Here is the poem in Persian and its literal translation in English:
Persian:
مهتاب به نور دامن شب بشکافت
می نوش دمی بهتر از این نتوان یافت
خوش باش و میندیش که مهتاب بسی
اندر سر خاک یک به یک خواهد تافت
عمر خیام نیشابوری
English:
The moonlight tears through the night’s cloak,
Drink wine, for better than this moment cannot be found.
Be happy and don’t worry, for the moon will shine
Over the graves, one by one.
Omar Khayyam
Beyond the Wall
What if there were no walls? What if there were no man-made barriers? What would the natural world reveal beyond these confines?
“Beyond the Wall” is a triptych acrylic on canvas painting that explores this concept by depicting the view towards Harrison Bay from Michael Undem’s house in Lake Errock, BC. The painting captures Squawkum Creek flowing towards Harrison Bay, framed by a realistically rendered sunny sky that symbolizes a yearning for more sunshine in the often-rainy BC.
The artwork blends freehand brush strokes with detailed, realistic layers in both the foreground and sky. It is intentionally hung at the natural eye level or horizon line, creating a visual balance that invites viewers to experience a natural view as if it were an extension beyond a man-made wall. The painting aims to replace artificial barriers with a serene and immersive natural scene.
Title: Beyond the Wall
Artist: Mohsen Veysi
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Location: PRivate Collection, Lake Errock, BC, Canada
Size: 4’ x 12’ (121.92 cm x 365.76 cm)
Year: 2024
When I Need a Pause!
Artist: Mohsen Veysi
Project Title: When I Need a Pause!
Medium: Acrylics on canvas
Size: Various
Year: 2024
Location: Private Collection, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
When I Need a Pause!
A series of acrylic paintings on canvas by Mohsen Veysi
This collection of four acrylic paintings, titled When I Need a Pause! was inspired by the view from Sterling Undem’s apartment in North Vancouver, BC—a stunning landscape that will soon be lost to urban development. With trees marked for removal and the ocean view set to be obscured by new buildings, this project aims to preserve these vanishing scenes through art.
The series began with a single painting displayed uniquely: positioned on a panel in front of a mirror, it reflects the natural view from the balcony. This arrangement offers a layered experience, presenting three perspectives simultaneously—the actual view, its mirrored reflection, and the painted interpretation. This interplay between reality and artistry captures the fleeting beauty of the landscape, transforming it into a lasting moment in time.
The paintings, characterized by free brushstrokes and vibrant colors, evoke both energy and relaxation. Each piece places special emphasis on the expansive sky, creating a calming and tranquil effect. Together, the lively brushwork and bold hues strike a harmonious balance, offering the viewer a moment of peace and reflection.
As the project developed, three additional paintings were created, each portraying unique perspectives of Vancouver: the North, East, South, and West as seen from the Lions Gate Bridge. The journey continued with new works inspired by Lynn Creek, where Sterling often rides his bike to rejuvenate himself in nature.
For Sterling, these paintings serve as more than mere depictions of changing views; they are a window into cherished moments and a way to reflect on the present. Surrounding his living room bed, the paintings bring him true pauses for contemplation, refreshing his energy and optimism as he grows older.
Or, as Mohsen puts it, they provide a space to “reflect in a place that fosters tranquility.”
Mohsen Veysi & Sterling Undem
Immersion in Tuscany
Artist: Mohsen Veysi
Tile: Immersion in Tuscany
Medium: Acrylic on Four Walls
Location: Private Collection, East Vancouver, BC, Canada
Dimensions: 215 x 57 inches
Year: 2024
The mural transforms the room into a portal to Tuscany, surrounding the viewer with golden fields, cypress trees, and sunlit villas. Each wall represents a unique aspect of Tuscan life—vineyards, olive groves, and a distant hilltop village, creating a sense of serenity and connection to nature.
In the heart of rainy Vancouver, this mural brings the warmth and charm of the Tuscan sun indoors. It offers an inviting escape, where the golden hues and tranquil landscapes serve as a remedy to the gray skies, infusing the space with a sense of optimism and Mediterranean vitality.
