In this episode, we speak with Berlin-based hat maker and artist, Maryam Keyhani about creativity as a form of healing, blurring fantasy and reality, and refusing to take her hat off for anyone but herself.

Episode Edited & Mixed by Matthew Conzelman
Original theme music by Billy Chapman

MARIAH: What did your parents first think when you told them you wanted to study art?

MARYAM: My father is an artist. So, I guess it was always assumed I would go to art school and I would become an artist. For Persian parents, this is very surprising because usually it's become a lawyer, engineer or doctor, but yeah, it was fine.

MARIAH: When you were younger, were you always sort of making things and creating your own worlds? Or did that come about in art school? 

MARYAM: I was more inside my own head imagining then I was actually making it as a kid. My grandmother always told me a story where I would take afternoon naps, but I wasn't actually sleeping. I was just making up my own fantasy scenarios and daydreaming. I would go inside my own head. Always inward, this imagination. 

MARIAH: That’s beautiful to hear. Stepping into your studio feels like a fever dream. The shop lives somewhere in between fantasy and reality. It's like you find a way to actually make these objects come alive.

MARYAM:  For me, it is a real blur. Also, it’s exhausting because I’m constantly going from reality to something else. 

MARIAH: It’s such a dream to be here. It feels surreal stepping into your studio. I can’t believe I made it to Berlin.  

MARYAM: I know, I'm so happy you're here. Welcome. 

MARIAH: I first want to take a big step back. And start by asking, what you were like as a little girl? Talk to me about your childhood in Iran before immigrating to Canada. 

MARYAM: I remember very little from my childhood actually, which is something I'm trying to explore more. I was an only child. I grew up in Iran and there were always people around. Our life was always busy. My mother was a social worker. While I was growing up, she was running an orphanage. So, I was always surrounded by many kids. I never really felt like I was an only child, you know? And then I moved to Canada when I was 13. 

MARIAH: When you were 13? What was that transition like when you moved to Canada? Do you remember?  

MARYAM: Vaguely. It was very difficult because I basically had to start high school and I didn't speak English. I don't know how I actually managed, but yeah I was taking lessons in English. And I mean, it's the story of every immigrant child, you know? Go into this world where you have no idea of how to process things. But, Canada is an incredible place. When I went to art school, everything changed.

MARYAM: Being a mother has opened me to seeing the world in a different way. But, it's such a trip. From like nine to four kids when the kids are in school, I’m in the zone, but when it hits four o'clock. It's like, okay, dinner time. And then you have to come back to earth. 

MARIAH: Truly, being present. Such a gift with children, right? 

MARYAM: They make you come back. Both my husband and my kids bring me come back to earth. I'm so thankful for it. 

MARIAH: How old are your little ones? 

MARYAM: Six and Ten.

MARIAH: What do your kids think about your work? Do they play dress up with you? 

MARYAM: My little one loves it. She's a six year old girl. She loves the idea of dressing up and playing fantasy. My son, Rumi, I think he gets embarrassed by it often. But, I always tell him the most important thing is to come as you are. I always say to him, if you're embarrassed by my hats then, I won't come to pick you up at this place, but I will not take off my hat and I can't not be who I am. It’s a hard lesson to teach. It's a hard lesson to live. Of course it would be so much easier to be like, okay when I come to school to pick you up, I'll take off my hat. It’s difficult and important lesson to teach them that no matter what – you have to be who you are even if it's difficult. 

MARIAH: Um, okay, that's so beautiful. I'm like, I could almost cry hearing you say to that because it's so true. And I feel like even now Rumi’s 10 years old, about to be like a preteen, but years from now. He'll, he'll look back and be like, my mom was fearless. She was absolutely fearless to live her truth. 

MARIAH: Okay, you’ve created such a beautiful and expansive world with paintings, capes, mushroom hats, gloves, glasses, and more.. Is there an area that you would love to dive deeper into, but really haven't had the chance? 

MARYAM:  I would love to do more things with children. Like I started making toys for adults, but now I think that I want to make things for kids too. Yeah, exactly. People just assume that kids aren’t sophisticated enough to have nice things, you know what I mean? 

MARYAM: My main inspiration these days is the kids of my neighborhood. Most Sundays the kids come over and you know, they’re trying on hats and wearing capes, it's like every kid is an art director. They're so fierce. They're so, Individual. And it's so inspiring to me.

MARIAH: You’re so right. Aw, Maryam, this has been so beautiful. Thank you so much for letting me come  here. 

MARYAM: You brought the sunshine and the sunflowers.

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