U of R Grad Student Commissioned to Create Sustainable Artwork

April 22 is Earth Day—a global call to action, urging us to advocate for change and work together toward a more sustainable future. At the University of Regina, our commitment to sustainability is a year-round priority. One recent initiative brings that mission to life through art. 

Resilience During the Flood, a new painting by Visual Arts MFA student Mahdi Mahdian, is now on display in the Riddell Centre. Commissioned through the Sustainability and Community Engagement Fund (SCEF), with support from the President’s Art Collection and Facilities Management, the piece amplifies the urgency of climate action—reminding us of what’s at stake and what we still have the power to protect. 

Mahdi layers, scrapes, blends, and strokes paint until humanity emerges from the dark. — David Garneau, painter, curator, and U of R Visual Arts professor

Creating for a Purpose

While some artists chase greatness, Mahdian is in pursuit of purpose. He strives to be more than what he calls “a good draftsman”—someone with only technical skill—and instead seeks to explore the deeper, conceptual aspects of art: work that impacts audiences beyond the canvas.

Drawn to the SCEF’s call for sustainability-focused projects, Mahdian saw an opportunity to create something meaningful while pushing himself artistically. Commissioned work, he says, presents a unique challenge: balancing a personal vision with someone else’s goals.

“I’m not used to being told what to do,” Mahdian jokes. “But I want to be flexible. It is my job as an artist.”

The SCEF requested a painting that would address climate issues specific to the prairie provinces, such as floods and fires. For Mahdian, this meant moving away from the figurative work he is familiar with and embracing a more direct, message-driven approach. Over six months, he developed the piece: revising sketches, meeting with the SCEF committee, and incorporating sustainable materials throughout the process.

Road to the U of R

Originally from eastern Iran, Mahdian earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting before moving to Ukraine to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in classical painting and drawing. When war broke out, he was forced to flee Ukraine—leaving behind the life he had spent nearly a decade building.

Faced with an uncertain future, Mahdian made the difficult decision to start over in Canada, drawn to the University of Regina by the strength of its Visual Arts faculty.

As a graduate student, Mahdian says he deeply values the opportunity to work with his supervisor, Visual Arts Professor David Garneau. He credits Garneau’s mentorship with shaping his growth as a contemporary painter. "I’m learning that skill alone isn’t enough. He’s helping me find my sense of self as an artist," says Mahdian.

To discover his sense of self, Mahdian explains, an artist must look inward—exploring identity, childhood, and even personal trauma. The process is demanding, both mentally and physically. He often spends up to 10 hours a day painting, knowing that most of his work will ultimately be discarded. And yet, he is not discouraged. "Sometimes it is about the practice, not about the result,” he says.

That dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed by his mentor. "Mahdi layers, scrapes, blends, and strokes paint until humanity emerges from the dark," says Garneau, recognizing Mahdian’s ability to evoke emotion through his work.

What’s Next?

Mahdian’s MFA graduating exhibition, Self as Archive: Fragments in a Persian Mirror, opens later this month at the Fifth Parallel Gallery in the Riddell Centre. The exhibition runs from April 25 to May 8 and is free to attend. The gallery is open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Apply to the Visual Arts program at the University of Regina and turn passion into purpose. Discover the available programs here!