Mahya Tolukian, painter and illustrator, got her bachelor's degree in graphics and her master's degree in illustration from Tehran University of Art. She had studied graphics in high school and her interest in using calligraphy in art work goes back to this period.

 

Tolukian has participated in many solo and group exhibitions and has collaborated with various galleries; Among these, we can mention Mojdeh, White Line, Artibition, and Iranian Artists Forum. In addition to holding exhibitions, Tolukian is also teaching at the university.

 

The use of calligraphy is one of the most obvious features of Mahya Tolokian's works; However, in her works, she does not only express the form of the calligraphy, but also pays attention to the concepts that are conveyed to the viewer through it. In the statement of the “Vagouyeh” exhibition, about the name of the exhibition and its connection with the artworks, she says: "Vagouyeh: by saying words that always sit at the forefront of people's thoughts... with various discourses, without paying attention to the theme, in this exhibition, showing the trend of these days of the people All world has been in front of the eyes.”

 

Regarding the presence of letters and calligraphy in her works, Mahya Tolukian mentions trying to look at it differently; With a formalistic view, she separates the calligraphy from its main and practical basis, i.e. legibility, and by directing it to an abstract space, she tries to create a visual identity for the calligraphy. Tolukian considers the atmosphere of her works to be closer to painting than to calligraphy, and she says about this: "I consider my works to be abstract painting, with the difference that the letters play the role of a visual element."