Biography
I completed my continuous Master of Architecture from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran, Iran, in 1998. Following that, I obtained my Ph.D. in Urban Design and Planning from the Faculty of Design and Architecture at the University Putra Malaysia. I have been passionate about painting since my teenage years, and it has remained a significant part of my life, both as a professional pursuit and a cherished hobby. My career has predominantly revolved around architecture, urban design, and urban tourism since 1995, and I have also been actively involved in teaching at different universities since 2010. I currently hold the position of assistant professor at the Faculty of Art, Architecture, and Urban Planning at an Institute of Higher Education in Iran. Additionally, in recent years, I have endeavored to integrate my academic and professional experiences with my artistic endeavors, devoting more time to independent artistic activities.
The story of
Mona Erfanian Salim
The story of my art began when I was 10 years old. It started when my cousin and parents noticed my interest in painting.
My journey into the art world brought a mix of reality and fantasy, making my teenage years happier and bringing color to the grayness of my war-torn homeland. I learned basic drawing and painting at Espahbodi Art School in my hometown, Mashhad. At 15 and 16, I participated in the first and second youth visual arts annual festival in Iran and was awarded first and second place in graphic design, which boosted my belief in the role of art in my life. At 18, I pursued architecture at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran to continue my studies. While my artistic activities were most fruitful in my teenage and recent years, I’ve always considered art a special treasure. Painting became a hidden supporter in my happiest and saddest moments. My journey in the art world can be divided into three main periods.
Resume
Education:
PhD in Urban Design and Planning, University of Putra Malaysia, 2012
MA in Architecture, University of Tehran, 1998
Recent Art Exhibitions:
Karlsruhe EATSA 2024 Special Creative Event (Art Gallery), Solo Exhibition, “Narrating the City”, Germany (2024)
Pice Gallery, Virtual Group Exhibitions, “Feminine Brushstrokes”, Portugal (March 2024)
Pice Gallery, Virtual Group Exhibitions, “Poetic Canvas”, Portugal (April 2024)
Pice Gallery, Virtual Group Exhibitions, “Urban Canvas”, Portugal (May 2024)
Art&Tur International Film Festival, Solo Exhibition, “A cultural interpretation: A Story of the Caldas Rainha”, Portugal (2023)
Titles of Selected Recent Publications:
“The Story of the City through People’s Narration” (2023)
“Bani Adam (Children of Adam)” (2020)
“The Culture-led Regeneration and Urban Management” (2019)
“Gender: at the Heart of Regeneration” (2019)
Recent Conference Presentations:
“City Storytelling, A Practical Approach for People Participation in Urban Tourism Development: The Practice of Caldas da Rainha, Portugal”, XIII International Scientific Conference Tourism in Social Sciences, Krakow, Poland (2024)
“The Story of the City and Urban Tourism”, 7th International Conference of EATSA, Okinawa, Japan (2021)
“Towards a Happy Island: Developing Tourists’ Needs in Urban Open Public Space in Kish Island”, 6th International Conference of EATSA, Sardinia, Italy (2020)
“Urban Tourism-Urban Open Public Space: An Opportunity for Sustainable Tourism”, 10th India International Hotel Travel & Tourism Research Conference (2020)