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Anahita Ghazanfari

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Born 1977 in Khoramabad, Iran

Anahita Ghazanfari’s passion for art is something that has been cultivated since early in her life, nurtured by the belief her archeologist father holds that self-knowledge comes from an understanding of one’s past, encouraging her to learn, understand and appreciate her country’s culture and traditions. This encouragement included allowing her to express her art freely, including on the walls of their home, and exposure to history books, poems, and museums. These experiences still feature prominently in her work today.

Although her pursuit of art as a career path received support from her parents throughout her early life, Anahita regards the beginning of her lifelong journey really began when she turned 18, and received a life-changing gift from her father, an analogue camera.

Anahita’s philosophy of artistic practice is that art transcends medium, with both the camera and brush complementing each other to help her create poetic visual stories.

Currently, Anahita lives in Malaysia, a move that she regards as one that has allowed her to expand her horizons and view art from a perspective that goes beyond her home country.

Nature features prominently in Anahita’s body of work, combined with elements of memories from her past and influences from Iranian Islamic art. Despite accepting the modern world, Anahita realizes that nature is all enveloping, and that we, too, are very much a part of nature.

Using nature as a basis, her works delve into the subject of human perception, combining diverse elements such as her own insights, emotions, memories, and observations.

I truly believe that art is soulful and resides deep within oneself. Art is roused by the harmonious vibes and beauty of nature that envelopes us. Nature is within us as it is around us and we all hail from nature. Modernity does not annul this fact.

Nature touches and invokes its most primal creativity in an artist. Hence, works of art are projections of an artist's soul to the outside world. In my case, nature speaks to my soul and predominantly through its magnificent beauty and permanence paradoxical to the evanescence imposed by human ambition and limitations. Nature gives us recognition of source and hope of continuity.

Education

Master of Art in Illustration, Art University, Iran

Bachelor of Art in Painting, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran

Awards (selected)

2010

Shortlisted for First Monorail Photo Festival, Malaysia

2002

First Place, Abyaneh group photo exhibition/competition, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran

2001

First Place, Dialogue of Civilisations group photo exhibition/competition, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran

Solo Exhibitions

2016

The Story of Rooms, Atelier Art Space, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya

2006

Autumn solo photo exhibition, Ferdos Gallery, Iran

2000

Ahvaz solo photo exhibition, Iran

Group Exhibitions

2017

People of Seremban, GlogauAir, Berlin, Germany
Story of Rooms, GlogauAir, Berlin, Germany
Calligraphy and Illumination by Iranian Artists, White Box, MAP@Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Journey, Creative Space, Seri Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Rediscover KL, The Row, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Collective Individuals, Urbanscapes House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Meadows Personal Structures, Palazzo Mora, Venice, Italy
XS, Titimerah Gallery, Art Row, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Lock Up Locker Art Exhibition, Harry Rogers Home, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

2016

Langkawi Art Biennale 2016, Pulau Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
IMMORTAL?, L’Atelier Rouge, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Quatre Femme, L’Atelier Rouge, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Sembilan Residency Exhibition: Exploration x Expression, Port Commune, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Daydreaming, Ella Art Space, Art Row, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2015

International Exhibition of Iranian Artist in Southeast Asia and Pacific, MATIC Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Art Connexion International, MATIC Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2014

Contemporary Iranian Artists, Melaka Art Gallery, Melaka, Malaysia
Iranian Artist Painting Exhibition, Cube Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2013

International Women’s Day Exhibition, Art Malaysia @ Viva Homes, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2012

SEPULUH DAH: Iranian Artist Exhibition, Art Seni Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysia Iran Art Exhibition MAIRA, Gallery Aswara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2010

Monorail Photo Festival, Malaysia

2001

Group Painting Exhibition, Nivaran Art Gallery, Iran

Residency Experience

2017

Artist in Residence, Glogauair Residency, Berlin, Germany

2015

Artist in Residence, Sembilan Art Residency, Seremban, Malaysia

Other Artistic Activities

2016

Documentary Photographer, Langkawi Art Biennale 2016, Langkawi, Malaysia

2015

Balik Balik Art Bazaar, National Visual Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2014

Documentary Photographer, Langkawi Art Biennale 2014, Langkawi, Malaysia

2012 – 2014

Photographer (full time), Centre for Content Creation, Limkokwing University for Creative Technology, Cyberjaya, Malaysia

2010 – 2011

Freelance Photographer and Writer, Monorail Magazine (Iranian lifestyle magazine), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In The Media

2017

LOCK UP LOCKER ART” – BFM Radio, March 1 2017

2016

Immortal?” – interview, Nanyang Siang Pau, October 18 2016
Immortal?” – interview, Sin Chew Press, October 2016
Immortal?” – interview, “THE ART OF BEING GREEN”, BFM Radio, October 5 2016
Quatre Femmes” – interview, Sin Chew Press, September 2016
Exploration x Expression” – interview, BFM Radio, May 20 2016
The Story of Rooms” –“安娜希塔 – 让房间说故事” (Anahita – Lets The Room Tell The Story), eNanyang.my, March 21 2016
Changing The Landscape” – Marie Claire Magazine, January 2016

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