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The Tehran of the nineteen nineties was not really acquainted with new media; the handful of galleries preferred to stick with the norms and dedicate themselves to showing painting, sculpture and, much more rarely, photography. Using images, posters and video extracts, the presentation sets out to shed some light on the progress of new media art in Iran.
The talk begins with the belated emergence of media art toward the end of the last decade of twentieth century and looks at the reason why it blossomed in the early two thousands before languishing, forgotten, for several years. The forces behind its recent powerful and independent comeback are then addressed. In the absence of funding from either the government or abroad, the development of the new media art scene has only been possible thanks to collective efforts and organic self-organisation. The presentation takes video art in Iran and the way it has forged its own way ahead over the past fourteen years as a case study.
Tehran’s new media scene is expanding into other cities, such as Isfahan, Sanandaj and Mashahad. At the same time, a few independent initiatives are try to push the back the boundaries in order to open up the space to more interdisciplinary practices by organising exhibitions and running festivals geared toward video art, sound and interactive projects and digital art, as well as holding regular audiovisual performance events.
Amirali Ghasemi is a Tehran-born artist, graphic designer and curator who currently lives and works on the move. He graduated with a BA in graphic design from Central Tehran Azad University in 2004, his emphasis having been on research into digital art history. In 1998, he founded Parkingallery, an independent project space in Tehran and then built on this by setting up Parkingallery.com, an online platform for young Iranian artists, in 2002. His photography, videos and designs have been shown at a range of international festivals and exhibitions, winning him awards and recognition. As a curator, he has directed a host of exhibitions, workshops and talks for Parkingallery’s projects. He co-curated “Urban Jealousy”, the 1st International Roaming Biennial of Tehran (2008-2009) and four editions of the Limited Access Festival for Video and Performance (2007-2013). This was followed by his involvement in myriad projects for institutions, project spaces and universities in Germany, the Netherlands, Serbia, Great Britain, Egypt, Turkey, the United States, Brazil, Canada, France, Sweden, Belgium, China and India. Ghasemi has been a guest lecturer at the Berlin University of the Arts, the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, the Malmo Academy of Arts, Ohio State University, the Delfina Foundation in London and the ICI in New York. He was selected as the guest curator for the CCBRUGGE in 2010 and Devi Art Foundation, India in 2012. Along with his independently curated programmes, such as The Invisible Present, (Brazil, USA) and Part of me ( France- Tehran), he served as a guest organiser, programming the video art section for the Rotterdam Film Festival and Göteborg International Film Festival in January and February 2013.
Ghasemi works with photography, video, installation and interactive projects, as well as writing about the local arts scene and contemporary Iranian art for a number of magazines and on his own blog. He has a long-term curatorial project, IRAN&CO, which consists of an ongoing exhibition and an archive devoted to the representation of Iranian art beyond the country’s borders.
Three Minutes of Headless Life at Azad Art Gallery – Tehran
June 20, 2014 Parkingallery Team
The great news is Tara Ahmadi is in town, for those in Tehran don’t miss her show at Azad Gallery, opening Today.
Three Minutes of Headless Life | June 20-25, 2014  | 4-8pm
Three Minutes of Headless Life is a video screening, which is comprised of three pieces with concerns about culinary consumption of the cultural products. Productive Frustration III, Gut Theory and Measuring the Level of Resistance all focus on the moment that art morphs into digestible commodities for the society of spectacle. The Lebanese-Canadian artist, Jayce Salloum, addresses the artist’s everyday struggle with such exasperating tension as a “productive frustration”. Combining different mediums such as stop-motion animation, 16mm film, HD video, still image and voiceover, Three Minutes of Headless Life hinges upon the ups and downs of remaining productive in a frustrating cultural moment. The title is also an homage to the standard length of the soon-to-be-out-of-market 16mm film roll, which is three minutes.
Productive Frustration III-2012: 3 min
Measuring the Level of Resistance-2011: 4 min
Incident Light at Blackwood Gallery, Mississauga
May 17, 2014 Parkingallery Team
Tara Najd Ahmadi & Hannah Darabi, Studio DCI – attempt 1, 2014 Laminated black and white photo 8 x 12 inches. Courtesy of the artists.
Gendered Artifacts and Traces Illuminated in the Archives
Tara Najd Ahmadi & Hannah Darabi*, Ala Dehghan* Maryam Jafri, Jumana Manna, Nahed Mansour, The Otolith Group & Tejal Shah
May 25 – July 27, 2014
*works commissioned by Azar Mahmoudian in collaboration with the curator
Sunday, May 25, 3 – 6pm
A FREE shuttle bus will depart from Hart House (7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto) at 3pm,  returning for 6pm.
Join us at 4pm for a tour of the exhibition with curators Leila Pourtavaf, Azar Mahmoudian, and artistNahed Mansour
A Film program curated by Azar Mahmoudian
Wednesday, May 28, 7 – 9pm
City of Toronto Archives, 255 Spadina Road, Toronto
FREE and open to the public
I’ve Heard Stories presents five international short films, each exploring the intersection of art and documentary practices:
I’ve Heard Stories 1 by Marwa Arsanios (Lebanon, 2008)
Swede Home by Shirin Sabahi (Iran/Sweden, 1966/1973/1975/2009)
Sans Titre (Untitled) by Neil Beloufa (Algeria/France, 2010)
Everywhere Was the Same by Basma Al Sharif (United States, 2007)
Why Colonel Bunny Was Killed by Miranda Pennell (UK, 2010)
University of Toronto Mississauga 3359 Mississauga Road Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
For more information, please click here.
“There are no foreign lands…” Darbast Platform – Mohsen Gallery
May 14, 2014 Parkingallery Team
“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign”*
Darbast Platform – Mohsen Gallery
Interactive Video Installation by Ila Firouzabadi & Payam Mofidi
Script by Elyas Alavi, Afghan Poet & WriterOpening: May 16, 2014 | 4:00 To 9:00 pm
The exhibition will be continued up to May 23, 2014
Visiting Hours: 04:00 to 08:00 pm
Darbast Platform / Mohsen Gallery
Gallery is closed on Thursdays.
“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.”Robert Louis Stevenson, The Silverado Squatters
Leonardo da Vinci wrote, “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” Leonardo of course was contemplating the concept of art from an artist perspective, and thus the second part of the quote seems very apt and relative. Artists virtually every time are forced to abandon their work because they cannot envisage taking any further steps to improve their work, and thus they are said to have left the work. Yet, one must ask: can an artwork ever be finished? Is completion realistic? Life of an artwork depends not on the hands of the artist, but on the gaze of the viewer. The viewer, which in the first instant is the artist, absorbs and engages with the piece, and through his or her interpretation gives significance and meaning to the work. Art is alive only through the audience, and every time new pair of eyes views it, they bring the artwork into present. We like to look for an origin, but with art, a piece is in constant state of rebirth. Art cannot have a conclusion, it can only have existence. Emmanuel Kant argued that a “work (ergon)” cannot exist “without an outline (parergon) for definition”, thus there must be a limit to all that exist in order for it to open up for description and examination. The 20th century French philosopher Derrida, in contradiction to Kant, argued that frames fall into a “liminal” space when it comes to a painting. Yet, more often we see that the artists include the frame as part of the work, and thus there is no outer edge dividing the work from outside, because even the framed painting is framed further by the walls surrounding it, by the building housing and so on.
Interactive artists certainly know of this condition, and they seek the audience to play an active role in the life of an artwork. Ila Firouzabadi and Payam Mofidi in their installation, do precisely that. They include the viewers, who seek the images by ritualistically stretching out their open hands. The audience brings the piece into life, and they become part of the work. Limits no longer apply here. There are no edges, just like there are no divisions between people, nationalities and countries. The installation causes all elements to merge into one, creating one existence. One work and you are included in it. The space is essential for the life of the piece, however it is not confining you, because you shall take the experience with you, and through it become more inclusive yourself. If you consider everyone as part of the same world and universe, then what would be the reason for any animosity, prejudice and hatred for your fellow man? Why would you seek to harm anyone or anything? If you experience existence as an all encompassing feeling, then you must allow yourself to be fair and compassionate. You will become the artwork yourself, and there are no ends. Death cannot be found. Only constant rebirth. Only constant equality for all shall be found. Nothing will be foreign to you, and no land shall exclude you. Isn’t that the beauty of life, and that which art has always sought to show us?  Taymaz Valley / Art Historian
Cast: Naim Jebelli | Naghmeh Sharifi | Sahar Mofidi | Mahereh Jalilsedighi
Camera: Payam Mofidi, Pirooz Nemati
Special Thanks to: Alborz Arzpeima, Pirooz Nemati, Nima Balazadeh, Parisa Mohit, Sara Reyhani, Ali Panahi
* by Robert Louis Stevenson
NEWS, Projects, What's on!
Wolfgang Knapp (Berlin University of the Arts – UdK) – Lecture at Aaran Gallery
April 24, 2014 Parkingallery Team
Art practice: self branding and experimental settings
Collaborations between artists and scientists
Lecture and presentation of projects by
Professor h.c. Wolfgang Knapp
Berlin University of the Arts (UdK)
Institute for Art in Context (post graduate program)
and Chair of Commission for advances Studies in Art and Sciences at UdK
Parkingallery projects in collaboration with Aaran Gallery – Tehran
Saturday, April 26th, 6:00 pm
No.12, Dey St., North Kheradmand Ave.
As a social and educational scientist, and after graduating in Art/Visual Communication Wolfgang Knapp has been teaching and doing research since 1988 at the Institute for Art in Context at the University of the Arts in Berlin. His main focus is on interdisciplinary projects on the interface of art and science (since 1993), minorities in art and the media, artist identity, international project cooperation, curatorial activities  and publications. („Missing Link- art meets biomedicine“,  „Fettes Archiv“ (Fat Archive) „Sensing the Street“,  „sterben wollen-Denkraum suizid“ (Desires to dies_ Rethinking Suicide) „Valldigna- Cultural Continuity in a Mediterranean Valley“ „Forschen und Ausstellen“ Researching and Exhibiting). Wolfgang Knapp is chairperson of the Commission for artistic and scientific projects at the University for the Arts in Berlin and a professor h.c. at the Department of Fine Arts and Design at Zhejiang Commercial Technical College in Hangzhou/China.
Breath from a warm locale at Croxhapox, Gent
March 30, 2014 Parkingallery Team
Poster designed by Hooman Alizadeh & Amirali Ghasemi
Breath from a warm locale
Film, video art and more
23 March – 20 April 2014
Opening on Saturday march 22d at 18:00
Parkingallery projects –Tehran in collaboration with Asayeshgah projects – Kerman
Curators Nima Bahrehmand ( Kerman) & Amirali Ghasemi (Tehran)
Houman Alizadeh | Shilan Borhani |Shahram Entekhabi | Negar Farajiani |Anahita Hekmat |Arash Khakpour/Arash Radkia | Arash khosronejad | Saman Khosravi |  Tala Madani |Arash Mobarrez/Ramin Rahimi | Amirali Mohebbinejad | Pouya Razi |Tara Najd Ahmadi |Jafar Sadeghi |Sona Safaei Sooreh | Zarin Salahi | Bahar Samadi
A Persian expression “Nafas az Jay-e garm” literally translates “Breath from a warm locale” in English and often used to describe where one is distanced from the reality because of his/her financial and/or political standpoint. In most cases these individuals do not encounter the common day-to-day experiences of a society simply because they have lived overseas.
Often this expression has been used as an irony. Dehkhoda writes in “Amsal o Hekam”, his encyclopedia of Iranian Proverbs: it can be pretty much unrealistic to accept an individual’s opinion that takes his/her breath in a warm locale. Warm locale here refers to a comfortable place.
We borrowed the expression to address a situation where artworks with no references to exotic elements, political issues, and etc. – are less likely to be selected for exhibitions of contemporary Iran. Despite their qualities and significance, they have been constantly filtered out and undermined for not being newsworthy or direct enough to be consumed together with an ideal news hour spent over dinner. With this expression we also refer to EU decision-makers in politics – specifically in relation to Iran – as spectators who “breath from a warm locale”.
Everyday Chamber of Miracles at Parkingallery projects, Tehran
March 28, 2014 Parkingallery Team
A one day event in Parkingallery
Everyday Chamber of Miracles | اطاق معجزات هرروزه | Alltagskammer is a collective efforts between artists based in Tehran and Berlin and is a result of 4 year collaboration between Parkingallery Projects – Tehran and Villa Kuriosum .
Since the late Renaissance “Wunderkammer” means a collection of curiosities representing the world:
Stuffed animals, weird weapons, exotic souvenirs and unique early auto-mats were presented in one room for deep astonishment of all visitors. – “Things never seen before” became the contemporary replacement of the classical miracle.
– Different to those (Art)Chambers of a few aristocrats or extremely rich people the collection of our association follows a different line: We believe that the “real” miracle only can be found in everyday life! (That’s why we call it”Alltagskammer”)
– As ambassadors of”Alltagskammer” we want to present you a “travelers – collection” of curiosities from our house in Berlin – Lichtenberg and hope you will enjoy the installation!
( “… ’cause nothing can be more exotic than reality!” )
and special installation from Parkingallery collection with works by
and Late John Matevousian
NEWS, Projects, Publications, To Watch, What we dig!, What's on!
The Wandering Islands at Aban Art Gallery, Mashhad
January 20, 2014 Parkingallery Team
The Wandering Islands – Aban Gallery, Mashhad – Poster designed by Iman Raad
Parkingallery projects and Limited Access Festival present in collaboration with Aban Art gallery Mashhad:
“The wandering islands” video program from Limited Access Four, will be screened at Aban Gallery in Mashhad from Jan 24-28th, 2014. “The wandering islands” is curated by Amirali Ghasemi from Parkingallery Video Archive,
and kindly organized by Saeed Mazinani
Videos and short experimental films by: Arash Khosronejad | Allahyar Najafi | Minoo Iranpour | Bahar Samadi | Amirali Mohebbinejad | Paran Pour | Azadeh Nilchiani | Aliyar Rasti | Maryam Espandi | Maziyar Pahlevan | Neda Moradi | Shirin Mohammad | Niloufar Zolfaghari | Nassrin Nasser | Anita Esfandiari | Sona Safaei | Amir Bastan | Sasan Abri | Mani Nilchiani | Rambod Vala and Neda Razavipour | Icy & Sot | Sina Haghani | Ramin Rahimi
“The Wandering Island” was first introduced as part of the exhibition LIMITED ACCESS II at Azad Gallery
– Tehran in 2009. The selection aimed to propose a panorama of experimental video works while staying away from a thematic approach or forcing a narrative.The current edition of THE WANDERING ISLAND(S) is designed to act as an open platform for various disciplines and voices within the Iranian new media sphere, uniting people and their work in spite of the geographical distance between them and their varying fields of work. The program which has been shown at Aaran Art Gallery Tehran,during LIMITED ACCESS FOUR  in Jan 2013, puts together works in a floating constellation, gathered to expand the borders of what we know as Video Art. These WANDERING ISLAND(S) are neither attached nor standing apart from each other, yet communicating through many invisible interconnecting paths.
Aban Art Gallery: No. 7, ninth Vakilabad St. Mashhad
Opening Jan 24th, 2014 – 17:00-20:00
Daily visiting hours: 10:00 – 12:00 & 17:00-20:00
Gallery is open on Fridays.
Abroad, NEWS, Notes, Projects
Happy 2014! (with a brief report of 2013)
January 12, 2014 Parkingallery Team
Parkingallery projects in collaboration with ABAN Gallery Mashhad will be screening THE WANDERING ISLANDS, a part of LIMITED ACCESS FOUR video program curated by Parkingallery Video Archive in Jan 2014.
Parkingallery’s founder and director Amirali Ghasemi, along with Neda Razavipour and Behrang Samadzadegan have been chosen as selection committee of VIDEOARTIST festival in ISFAHAN which will open in 3 venues in the city around mid Feb 2014.
and now a brief report some of our past activities in the 2nd half of 2013 includes projects in New York, Beijing, Sanandaj and Hormoz Island.
“Iran: Making Space for video” and “Unusual Encounters” are  lecture/screening programs which Amirali Ghasemi presented on behalf of Parkingallery Video Archive at department of Cinema Studies: Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.
10th Beijing Independent Film Festival – Poster
The Invisible Present Tense, the video and experimental film program curated for the 42nd Rotterdam film festival by Parkingallery video archive after being shown at 36th Göteborg International Film Festival found its way to China at 10th Beijing Independent Film Festival in late Aug 2013.
Live program, video still from the recordings by Amir Bastan
“Live program” was designed as a collective live video/performance studio to perform, record and present/broadcast a four hour long program as a part of 4th Sanandaj contemporary arts festival. The crew decided to record interviews with the guests, artists and visitors of the event for archival use and future projects, after facing some technical and logistic issues. Participating artists were Anahita Hekmat, Borna Ahmadi, Amir Bastan, Maryam Oskouei, Amirali Ghasemi, Zarvan Rouhbakhshan & Mohammad Kalantari among others.
4th Hormoz Festival, Nov 2013 – Photo taken from the Group’s Page on Facebook
Hormoz New Art group invited parkingallery projects to collaborate with them in their various programs in Nov – Dec 2013. This has resulted in 3 fruitful events in Hormoz Island, an artist talk, a screening and a panel discussion.
“Documenting Video Art in Iran”
The program was previously presented at Tassvir magazine‘s IMAGE OF THE YEAR at Iranian Artist Forum in Tehran and also at a private studio in Sanandaj in early 2013, and finally in Dec an updated version of the program arrived in Hormoz Island during 3rd EXIT, A forum for Artists Beyond Center.
On 2nd day of EXIT forum, Negar Farajiani, Miakil Rahmani and Amirali Ghasemi joined Ahmad Kargaran and Mohammad Banouj and various artists from all around Iran to discuss independent art projects and initiatives in the country and possibilities of collaboration and sharing ideas and experiences.
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Haphazardly | Photography Exhibition | Faramarzi Gallery – Tehran
December 4, 2013 Parkingallery Team
Haphazardly – Poster Designed by Amir Moghtadaeifar
Abnous Alborzi, Mahtab Alizadeh, Maryam Niazadeh, Maryam Oskouei
Continue reading Haphazardly | Photography Exhibition | Faramarzi Gallery – Tehran →
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Independent art space for new media | Tehran | Iran
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