Ophelia's dead

I was inspired by Hamlet's thoughts regarding life and death, being alive and being dead. The balance continues with consideration of the way one deals with life and death.
The color palette and the wrinkled paper texture are associated with an old story that is still alive and conveys a mysterious message to the audience.
In my painting, every little part is alive and it can be observed that deformation is present in each bit.
Even Ophelia's dead floating body looks alive as she is staring into the sky.

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Maryam Attar Bashi is a Melbourne-based visual artist specialising in immersive installation and expanded painting practices. Born in Ahvaz, Iran (1981), she relocated to Australia in 2005, where she pursued her studies in graphic design at Enmore Design Centre and later completed a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design at Deakin University.

Maryam has recently completed her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at RMIT University, marking a significant evolution in her practice from graphic design to contemporary fine art. Her work focuses on creating immersive environments that explore themes of feminism, activism, diaspora, and the socio-political realities of her homeland, Iran.

Drawing from personal experience, Maryam critically engages with issues surrounding women’s rights, gender inequality, and the impact of religious and cultural systems. Her practice often incorporates self-representation as a performative strategy, positioning herself simultaneously as subject and creator to express lived experiences of displacement, resistance, and resilience.

Working across installation, painting, and drawing, her projects confront dominant narratives and challenge entrenched gender stereotypes. Through layered materials, symbolic elements, and spatial interventions, she constructs emotionally charged environments that invite reflection on identity, power, and freedom.

Maryam has exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions and is recognised as an award-winning artist.