& Eventually A Plate

22 Jan

The second edition of the 4C Group UKNA Bursary brings into the spotlight Parham Ghalamdar, a Manchester-based artist, underpinned by the 4C Group's steadfast dedication to nurturing the arts. The 'And Eventually a Plate' event, set against the backdrop of Canopy by Hilton London City, offers an immersive glimpse into Ghalamdar's evolving ceramic artistry, a vibrant homage to his Iranian roots melded with culinary expression. This event is enriched by the contributions of Nicola Ellis, a fellow artist who shares a studio with Ghalamdar, through an engaging speech, and the dynamic recitation/performance by the artist Raheel Khan.

Commencing on January 22nd, Ghalamdar embarks on a residency at the Canopy by Hilton London City's 'Retreat', inviting visitors to delve into the nuances of his creative journey and witness the birth of his ceramics. His ceramics, akin to relics from an archaeological dig of a futuristic era, are shrouded in an aura of mystery, their dark glazes hinting at Lovecraftian realms and marked by the petrochemical scars of our era. These pieces echo the themes of Reza Negarestani's "Cyclonopedia," which stand as poignant symbols at the intersection of divine machinations and capitalist exploits, where oil is the dark muse of time's passage.

This narrative culminates in a curated dining experience during the Wolf Moon of 2024, a collaboration with the Head Chef at Canopy by Hilton London City. Together, they craft a menu that transcends mere sustenance, transforming Ghalamdar's ceramics into conduits for a story of complexity, convergence, and critique, symbolizing the fraught relationship between nature's bounty and its exploitation.

(Photographed by Martin Cooper, Madara Vimba, and Samuel Bates.)

Ceramics

The Menu

The Food and the plates