Biography
Being always fascinated by Oriental art, she draws inspiration for her creations from cultural diversity and her various trips. Elenashirin has travelled for many years following a specific approach. Her artistic expression addresses a personal search that aims at highlighting interpersonal relationships between people, with an eye wide open onto the feminine side. Metamorphosis, development and the many changes encountered by women are the focus of her art projects.
Painting and photography are her favourite media to express her emotions.
In her portraits transformation, change and the use of symbols evoke ancient writings and signs.
Elenashirin lives and works in Ticino, the Southern part of Switzerland.
After attaining the Applied Decorative Arts diploma at the CSIA (College for the Artistic Industry) in Lugano, she continued her education to obtain the Art teacher diploma, under the guidance of professors Nag Arnoldi, Milo Cleis, Piergiorgio Piffaretti, Bruno Monguzzi, Gianni Realini, Livio Bernasconi and Giuliano Togni. She taught in Swiss colleges for a period of 10 years.
For some years Elenashirin collaborated with the fashion and theatre industry in Switzerland and Italy.
She has been involved in collaborations with the world of street theatre and performances in Italy and in the United Kingdom.
Recent research and photography trips to Mali (Africa) and Gujarat (India) have infused the artist’s creative concept of expression basing her artistic development on both countries’ human realities. As a consequence, the direction taken by Elenashirin is that of working with elements of those different artistic and cultural traditions, which highly influence and inform her research. Collaborations and exchanges with local Indian artists and craftspeople have deeply consolidated her intention of returning to Gujarat during the monsoon season in order to undertake miniature painting studies.
