PICTURES: Melbourne artist waves goodbye to his seaside studio
Laura Placella
Digital and Political Editor
BY WENMIAO XIN
Before Melbourne was plagued by COVID-19, you might have seen artist Aboozar ‘Nima’ Jamishi somewhere in the city painting, or talking, up a storm.
After Melbourne’s first lockdown was lifted on June 1, Nima made St Kilda Beach his new workplace. He would set up shop there almost everyday.
With the city currently enduring a second lockdown, Nima must now paint from his studio.
But, these photos captured a time when Nima could paint Melbourne and its residents while in their presence.
Nima hails from Iran but currently calls Melbourne home.
Nima’s paintings are often inspired by real life, whether it be a sailing boat in the distance or passers-by. Here, he is painting the sun set over the sea at St Kilda Beach.
Nima believes street-based artists are inseparable from the public space.
Nima’s Instagram bio reads “buy art from living artists, the dead ones don't need to eat & pay bills”. When he paints in public, his paintings are exhibited alongside him, with passers-by welcome to make a purchase. Nima said his paintings were once sold to a Danish art gallery for $2,000.
Nima enjoys being a street artist because he gets to meet all sorts of people. Once, he met Hollywood actress Amber Heard in Byron Bay. A girl (pictured) stopped to talk to Nima at length and now, they follow each other on Instagram.
Nima would leave his seaside studio in the late afternoon. He would assemble his paintings on a trolley to transport them, while playing music on his stereo.