Tala Porbaha is an Iranian artist and art educator based in Copenhagen.
With over 13 years of experience, she has pioneered a unique teaching approach that blends creativity, environmental awareness, and mindfulness, specifically designed for children.
Tala has curated several impactful exhibitions centered on environmental themes, using diverse media such as installation art “Recycle Games” 3D animation “h2ope” and recycled fashion “Little Guardians”.
Alongside her educational work, Tala is also an accomplished visual artist and sound actress, known for her innovative and thought-provoking projects.
TALA THE ARTIST
TALA THE TEACHER
My approach emphasizes hands-on learning, encouraging children to explore various techniques and mediums in a supportive and inspiring environment.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see their curiosity and self-expression flourish, building their confidence and fostering a lifelong appreciation for the visual arts.
EXHIBITIONS
01
BAZIYAFT
JUN 2014
THE PROJECT
"Bazi Yaft," also known as "Recycle Games," was a collaborative exhibition curated by Tala Porbaha at Mohsen Gallery in June 2014.
The exhibition's central theme was a city constructed from recycled materials, created by children aged 4 to 12.
Several NGOs and international organizations participated in the project to raise awareness about environmental issues. Notably, the head of the UN in Iran delivered a speech, and the event also involved organizations like the Nafas NGO, among others.
Documentary Director: Reza Tofighjoo
THE STATEMENT
The relationship between the child and the environment or nature, is not a new subject, something that we have never heard or read about.
It is, however, important enough for any of us to do something for it. In "Recycle Games," our story began this way. I asked the families of my students to collect their dry solid waste and send it to the classroom.
I did the same, and after a month we had a mountain of trash of bottles, cans and pasteboards every single one of which we knew. It became a habit not to throw away our solid waste. It was a good feeling to make a bird or a vase out of something that was a mere trash yesterday.
The good feeling was even more pleasing than “buying” it. We made a city, a city full of endless dreams of students. We all made it together. The students, our friends and me, all those who had the same concern, who helped us overcome our inabilities. The story of building this city is perhaps a good symbol of group work for a better world, as vast as the dreams of children.
02
LITTLE GUARDIANS
DEC 2016
THE PROJECT
Little Guardians" was a collaborative exhibition curated by Tala Porbaha at Mohsen Gallery in December 2016.
In this project, Tala Porbaha and her students created fashion costumes using recycled materials sourced from the children's homes, with the assistance of costume designer Neda Nasr.
The final pieces were photographed by Alireza Fani and exhibited at Mohsen Gallery
Documentary Director: Siavash Naghshbandi
THE STATEMENT
In the beginning there was nothing and the Creator created the earth × There was evening and there was morning and the Creator created humans on earth × And humans created humans thereafter × Little humans on earth created garments from refuse and photographed those garments so as to tell us something…× May we not destroy each other’s creatures,
for destruction, like creation, comes with a domino effect × Tala Porbaha × Curator
03
H20PE
DEC 2019
THE PROJECT
"H2OPE" is a 3D animation produced by Hourakhsh Studio and curated by Tala Porbaha.
Directed by Neda Khajee and Ashkan Rahgozar, this project features a story developed by Tala Porbaha and her students about water scarcity on Earth. Remarkably, the voice actors, as well as the creators of the story and visual elements, were children aged 4 to 12.
They received support from Hourakhsh Studio to bring their vision to life.
Documentary Director: Siavash Naghshbandi
THE STATEMENT
“You’re too young,” “I don’t know how to do it,” “you’re not talented enough,” “you are not able to do it,” “I don’t have the required skills to do it ...”.
These are not the conversations that my students and I have in our art class. Instead, we dream until we find a way to make our dreams come true. This time Hoorakhsh was our Ginny.
It held our hands and slowly guided us from our simple and warm cartoon to the world of complex and professional animation making. Our story became the tale of water, thirst, and the nightmare of the day that there’s no water left. But, as always the kids didn’t accept that the task is impossible and came up with their own solutions for that waterless day.
Planting a water tree or inventing a time machine to revert things to the time when everything was made out of water became the hope for young artists who might be the last, best hope of Earth.
©2024 TALA PORBAHA – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED