SOLO EXHIBITION AT WORKPLACE FOUNDATION 2020
SOLO EXHIBITION AT WORKPLACE FOUNDATION 2020
Workplace Foundation proudly showcased the debut solo exhibition by Parham Ghalamdar in Gateshead in January 2020. More information on Workplace Foundation can be found on their website.
Ghalamdar's artistry is showcased in an array of surreal forms and structures, crafted with intense, acidic hues, populating desolate and barren landscapes. These uncanny objects, painstakingly arranged, incorporate elements from an eclectic mix of Western and Middle-Eastern Art History. His inspirations span from Caravaggio, Goya, and Bouguereau to Soviet Socialist realism, graffiti, pop culture, and traditional Persian miniatures.
Ghalamdar’s oeuvre oscillates between the aesthetics of realism and cartoon, creating an absurdist interplay. By obscuring the narrative, Ghalamdar enables each painting to exist independently, deflecting any didactic interpretations. His carefully constructed compositions offer a symbolic counterpoint to the stifling burden of dogmatic ideologies that he faced in his native land.
Born in 1994 in Tehran, Iran, Parham Ghalamdar pursued studies in Printing and Media at the Art University in Tehran. He was a key member of ELF Crew, Iran's pioneering graffiti collective, known for their subversive, cryptic resistance to the regime and their liberal, progressive subculture. Ghalamdar faced several arrests due to his graffiti activities, leading to an indefinite detainment in western Iran in 2014. As the interrogations grew harsher and investigations into his affiliations and social circles became more rigorous, Parham, fearing for his life (his sexuality could warrant a death sentence if revealed), managed to escape Iran. After journeying through Asia, he was granted asylum in the UK. In 2019, he completed his BA in Fine Art, specializing in Painting, at the Manchester School of Art.
Photography credits go to John McKenzie, courtesy of Workplace Foundation.
PARHAM GHALAMDAR IN CONVERSATION WITH JENNY EDEN
Gallery
EMBEDDED MEDIA
https://www.youtube.com/embed/6QhBMyCdqDc
