Cultured Pallets

faded stroke

Cultured Pallets series are transient installations which grow out of an ongoing process of marking shipping pallets with an email address and a variety of collected motifs and designs. The cultured pallets are then sent back into circulation. Soheila completes the project by tracking the pallets after they leave the exhibition and engaging in correspondence with the individuals who find them. These installations focus on the notion of translation in its etymological meaning as the process of ‘carrying across’ and employ shipping pallets as metaphors for the transfer of units of ‘culture.’ The pallets also represent ‘in-betweeness’ by being in a permanent state of transit.

“Cultured Pallets: Hafnarborg”, mixed media on wooden shipping pallets, 2023

 

“Cultured Pallets: Hafnarborg”, mixed media on wooden shipping pallets, 2023

 

“Cultured Pallets: Hafnarborg”, mixed media on wooden shipping pallets, 2023

 

“Cultured Pallets: Reykjavik I”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023

 

“Cultured Pallets: Reykjavik I”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023

 

“Cultured Pallets: Reykjavik II”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023

 

“Cultured Pallets: Reykjavik III”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023

 

“Cultured Pallets: Reykjavik IV”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023

 

“Cultured Pallets: Reykjavik V”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023

 “Cultured Pallets: Hafnarfjörður”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023

 

“Cultured Pallets: Aga Khan Museum”, laser-etching & acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023
photo: Aly Manji

 

“Cultured Pallets: Aga Khan Museum”, laser-etching & acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023
photo: Aly Manji

 

“Cultured Pallets: Aga Khan Museum”, laser-etching & acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023
photo: Aly Manji

 

“Cultured Pallets: Aga Khan Museum”, laser-etching & acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023
photo: Aly Manji

 

“Cultured Pallets: Aga Khan Museum”, laser-etching & acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 2023
photo: Aly Manji

 

“Cultured Pallets: Idea Exchange”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 95” x 96”x 41”, 2022
photo: Bradley Southam

 

“Cultured Pallets: Idea Exchange”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 95” x 96”x 41”, 2022
photo: Bradley Southam

 

“Cultured Pallets: Idea Exchange”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets, 95” x 96”x 41”, 2022
photo: Bradley Southam

 

“Cultured Pallets: True North”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets,  24’x 48″x 10′, 2019

 

“Cultured Pallets: True North”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets,  24’x 48“x 10′, 2019

 

“Cultured Pallets: True North”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets,  24’x 48″x 10′, 2019

 

“Cultured Pallets: SAIB”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets,  24’x 48″x 10′, 2018

 

“Cultured Pallets: SAIB”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets,  24’x 48″x 10′, 2018

 

“Cultured Pallet: Indian Chest at Farmhouse I”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallet,   36″x 48″x 4.5” , 2018

 

Cultured Pallets: Ross Creek”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets,   40″x 48″x 36” , 2018

 

Cultured Pallets: Ross Creek”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets,   40″x 48″x 36” , 2018

 

Cultured Pallet: Annie’s Garden”, mixed media on wooden shipping pallet,   40″x 24″x 4.5” , 2018

 

Cultured Pallet: Annie’s Garden”, mixed media on wooden shipping pallet,   40″x 24″x 4.5” , 2018

 

Cultured Pallet: Scot’s Bay”, mixed media on wooden shipping pallet,   40″x 48″x 4.5” , 2018

 

Cultured Pallet: Scot’s Bay”, mixed media on wooden shipping pallet,   40″x 48″x 4.5” , 2018

 

Cultured Pallet: Indian Chest at Farmhouse II”, mixed media on wooden shipping pallet,   40″x 48″x 4.5” , 2018

 

Cultured Pallet: Indian Chest at Farmhouse II”, mixed media on wooden shipping pallet,   40″x 48″x 4.5” , 2018

 


“Cultured Pallets: Windsor”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets,   144″x 120″x 4.5” , 2017

 

“Cultured Pallets: Windsor”, acrylic on wooden shipping pallets,   144″x 120″x 4.5” , 2017

 

Soheila Esfahani Cultured Pallet FMC“Cultured Pallet: FMC”, mixed media on wooden pallet,   10″x 31″x 47”, 2015

 

SRZ_8080“Cultured Pallet: FMC”, mixed media on wooden pallet,   10″x 31″x 47” , 2015

 

Soheila Esfahani Cultured Pallet FMC detail“Cultured Pallet: FMC”, mixed media on wooden pallet,   10″x 31″x 47” , 2015

 

SRZ_8094“Cultured Pallet: Homage to Jeannie Thib”, mixed media on wooden pallet,   10″x 31″x 47” , 2015

 

Soheila Esfahani Cultured Pallet Homage to Jeanie Thib“Cultured Pallet: Homage to Jeannie Thib”, mixed media on wooden pallet,   10″x 31″x 47” , 2015

 

Soheila Esfahani Cultured Pallet Homage to Jeanie Thib detail“Cultured Pallet: Homage to Jeannie Thib”, mixed media on wooden pallet,  10″x 31″x 47”, 2015

 

SRZ_8106“Cultured Pallet: Homage to Jeannie Thib”, mixed media on wooden pallet,  10″x 31″x 47” , 2015

 

cultured pallet persian 1“Cultured Pallet: Persian”, acrylic on  laser-etched  wooden pallet,  5″ x 40″x 48” , 2014

 

Soheila Esfahani Cultured Pallets Persian detail 2“Cultured Pallet: Persian”, acrylic on  laser-etched  wooden pallet,  5″ x 40″x 48” , 2014

 

06SE2014CulturedPalletsTO“Cultured Pallet: TO”, mixed media on wooden pallets,  5″ x 96″x 120” , 2014

 

07SE2014CulturedPalletsTODetail“Cultured Pallet: TO”, mixed media on wooden pallets,  5″ x 96″x 120” , 2014

 

IMG_3770“Cultured Pallet: TO”, mixed media on wooden pallets,  5″ x 96″x 120” , 2014

 

09-6794“My Place is Placeless”, laser-etched wooden pallets,  10’ x 12’x 40” , 2013

 

17-7349“My Place is Placeless”, laser-etched wooden pallets,  10’ x 12’x 40” , 2013

 

14-6814“My Place is Placeless”, laser-etched wooden pallets,  10’ x 12’x 40” , 2013

 

18-6818“My Place is Placeless”, laser-etched wooden pallets,  10’ x 12’x 40” , 2013

 

22-6830“My Place is Placeless”, laser-etched wooden pallets,  10’ x 12’x 40” , 2013

 

Photo of the Cultured Pallets series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Cultured Pallets: KW”, stenciled recycled wooden pallets, approx. 60’ x 10’x 40” , 2011

 

Photo of the Cultured Pallets series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Cultured Pallets: KW”, stenciled recycled wooden pallets, approx. 60’ x 10’x 40” , 2011

 

Photo of the Cultured Pallets series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Cultured Pallets: KW”, stenciled recycled wooden pallets, approx. 60’ x 10’x 40” , 2011

 

Photo of the Cultured Pallets series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Cultured Pallets: KW”, stenciled recycled wooden pallets, approx. 60’ x 10’x 40” , 2011

 

Photo of the Cultured Pallets series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Cultured Pallets: KW”, stenciled recycled wooden pallets, approx. 60’ x 10’x 40” , 2011

 

Photo of the Cultured Pallets series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Cultured Pallets: KW”, stenciled recycled wooden pallets, approx. 60’ x 10’x 40” , 2011

 

Photo of the Cultured Pallets series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Cultured Pallets: KW”, stenciled recycled wooden pallets, approx. 60’ x 10’x 40” , 2011

The pattern for the Vagireh Pattern is based on a design from a Persian book of illuminations. This particular pattern is a continuous design that can be expanded in both directions. The word “vagireh” means transmittable or contagious. This installation reflects these ideas in both a practical and conceptual way. Practically, the inscribed pattern can be expanded onto a larger number of pallets, and the pallets will re-enter circulation. Conceptually, the installation refers to the spread (transmittance) of cultural motifs in various societies.


Photo of work from the Trans Series by artist Soheila Esfahani “The Vagireh Pattern”, Laser-etched wooden shipping pallets, 62”x48”x40”, 2010

 

Photo of work from the Trans Series by artist Soheila Esfahani “The Vagireh Pattern”, Laser-etched wooden shipping pallets, 62”x48”x40”, 2010

 

 

Photo of work from the Trans Series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Rothko: Golden Stack”, Altered wooden pallets, posters, 2010

 

 

Photo of work from the Trans Series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Rothko: Golden Stack”, Altered wooden pallets, posters, 2010

 

Photo of the Cultured Pallets series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Cultured Pallets: UWO”, Altered & stenciled recycled pallets, dimensions varies, 2010

 

Photo of the Cultured Pallets series by artist Soheila Esfahani“Cultured Pallets: UWO”, detail, Altered & stenciled recycled pallets, 2010

 faded stroke

 

 

One Response to Cultured Pallets
  1. […] Recently, curator and writer Noa Bronstein wrote an article on client Soheila Esfahani (www.soheila.ca) for Rungh. The article, Cultured Pallets: Translating the Global, looks at Soheila’s ongoing project that engages with the use of shipping pallets as a way to interrogate circulation with regards to cultural exchange. In her artist statement on this body of work Soheila writes “[t]hese installations focus on the notion of translation in its etymological meaning as the process of ‘carrying across’ and employ shipping pallets as metaphors for the transfer of units of ‘culture.'” (read more) […]