Haft Seen #1 (2015) Painting by Lalleh Mahloudji

Haft Seen Series:
A series of works evoking memories of bygone years. Times pass, lives evolve but there are certain deep rooted feelings “les memoires involontaires” as Proust says in his epic work “A la recherche du temps perdu” that live inside the grooves and corners of one’s subconscious mind that reveal themselves in colors, tastes, feelings, involuntary memories, light and forms.The first series in this project started a couple of months before Norouz (persian New Year) of 2015. I started with the depiction of Haft Seen juxtaposed on top of birds, around pools and inside arches. Haft seen in Persian refers to the seven items traditionally set up in houses to celebrate the coming of the Persian New Year (the first day of spring). Depending on each homes' tradition, those seven items are and they represent:
Somagh (sumac) : symbolizes the color of sunrise.
Serkeh (vinegar): symbolizes age and patience.
Senjed (dried fruit from lotus tree): symbolizes love.
Samanoo (sweet pudding): symbolizes affluence.
Sabzeh (sprouts): symbolizes rebirth.
Sib (apple): symbolizes health and beauty.
Other items often used are Garlic, Hyacinth, eggs etc...