KATAYOUN P DOWLATSHAHI

I am a professional artist incorporating the medium of photography within 3 dimensional and deep relief constructions; integrating such diverse materials as glass, metal or paper. From October 1998 - 99' I will be living and working in Durham as the 16th Artist in Residence at Durham Cathedral . Since 1996 I have been working with classical imagery from various centuries as inspiration for my constructions, the most recent of which involved a trip to Assisi and Florence, in search of works by various Italian Renaissance painters, for an international photo-based art commission. I chose to work with the more subtle aspects of the commission's theme of Sexuality and Gender by taking as my theme the Garden of Eden. The 'Eden Cycle' was an exploration of human initiation, as symbolised by the myth of Adam and Eve, an attempt to draw parallels between the symbols of 'Paradise' and human experience. In each of the three pieces of work, I had attempted to touch on issues of innocence, sexuality and isolation; drawing my visual inspiration from the various frescoes and wall paintings of the early church. The works created were an attempt to assimilate aesthetics and symbolism with contemporary visual art practice. The breaking down and simplification of my references are an essential part of of my working practice, so that the resultant images evoke a rawness of experience, that are not limited by historical and cultural constraints. Symbolism within this genre of imagery, is I believe a natural compliment to the issues of present day society. 'The Nature of Violence' A moment of madness, a moment of fear, and in it's expulsion, there follows retreat. The work prior to 1996 was not so centred on the representation of violent acts, but of the suppression of energy, which begins a journey of descent into aggression. Energy is fundamentally beautiful, and in it's suppression there results a certain edge of uncertainty and discomfort. We live in a complex world and society where daily interactions between people and societies and like constantly shifting boundaries. As tectonic plates, our energies are in constant motion; at times in collision and at other times becoming a dance of unpredictability. This is a beautiful dance, a seduction that leads us always to walk to our edge, our limit; a dangerous place, where collision could portend death. Glass is an appropriate medium to convey these metaphors: Danger, Disquiet, Uneasiness, Seduction, Desire and Beauty. Glass is fragile yet strong, translucent yet dense, and like water describes a quality of emotion that runs deep into our unconscious. Together with photography and other tactile mediums, I have created work that uses surface as a way of exploring tension. Through my own experiences of life and my close interactions with people, I have developed a series of work which touch on the subject of conflict: personal and cultural. I wish not to describe, but to find a visual language in which I may convey the metaphors that have been close to my heart.

Born Tehran/Iran, 16th November 1967

British National Address:
Artist studio, 2 The College, Durham Cathedral, Durham City, DH1 3EQ
tel: 0191 384 4721

1993 - 1994
Winchester School of Art Park Avenue Winchester Hampshire M.A. European Fine Art

1988 -1991
Edinburgh College of Art Lauriston Place Edinburgh B.A Hons. Printmaking

1995
AMTIS The Arts Management Training initiative Scotland Moray House Institute Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh 'Survival skill for visual Artists' 8 week training course in different aspects of self management

1992
City and Guilds Summer school
City and guilds Art School Kensington London
8 Day Intensive in Figure Drawing Awards

1997
The S.A.A.C (Scottish Artists, Artist Craftsmen) Award

1996
The S.S.A. (Society of Scottish Artists) Award

1992
The Prince's Trust Award, Edinburgh

1989
Andrew Grant Travelling Scholarship, Edinburgh

Residencies

1998
The post of 'Artist in Residence at Durham Cathedral' Oct.98-99

Commissions

1998
Art in Fort Augustus, Commissioned by IPA Independant Public Arts Ltd to create a site specific Public Art Work in consultation with the local community, at Fort Augustus - Scotland.

1997
Fotofeis, Commissioned £4,500.00 to produce a new body of work for Fotofeis Photography Festival at the Aberdeen Art Gallery, School Hill, Aberdeen.

1995
Short listed for the LDDC London Docklands Development Corporation Commission; to undertake, in the initial design of a Public Art Work at the site of the Cannon Workshops at West Ferry Road, Isle of Dogs.

Solo Exhibitions

1997
'Private Bodies, Public forms', Fotofeis, Aberdeen Art Gallery
' Traces of Self' Plymouth Arts Centre, Plymouth Exhibitions

1997
Scottish Artists & Artist Craftsment, RSA Gallery, Edinburgh
'Brave Art', Peacock Printmakers Gallery, Aberdeen
West Gate Gallery, North Berwick
The Line Gallery, Linlithgow

1996
'Business & Art', Mexican Cultural Institute, San Antonio, USA.
Society of Scottish Artists, RSA Gallery, Edinburgh Festival Exhibition,
Bann's Cafe, Edinburgh
'Brave Art', Mayfest, Glasgow
'A Sense of Place', McRoberts Art Centre, Stirling

1995
Festival Exhibition of New Works, Bann's Cafe, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Academy School, Edinburgh
Winchester Graduates, Stansell Gallery, Taunton

1994
Scottish Society of Artists, Phillips Auctions, Glasgow
Caja de Madrid, Plaza Catalun`a, Barcelona, SPAIN
Tallers Oberts 1994, Barcelona, SPAIN
M.A. Degree Show, Winchester School of Art

1993
Artist a Week, Collective Gallery, Edinburgh
Portobello Open, Citizens Studio, Edinburgh
Scottish Society of Artists, RSA, Edinburgh

1992
'Alchemy', The Engine Shed, Edinburgh

1991
Royal Scottish Academy Student Exhibition, RSA
New Generation, Compass Gallery,
Glasgow Up in Arts, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow
Reciprocal Nature, Shore Gallery, Edinburgh
Scottish Society of arts Centenary, RSA, Edinburgh
The Shore Gallery Christmas Show, Edinburgh
The Compass Gallery Christmas show, Glasgow

1990
Scottish Society of Women Artists, RSA, Edinburgh

1989
'Works on paper', Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh

Performances

1994
'The Nature of Violence', Solo performance with glass installations, Palo Alto, Winchester School of Art, Barcelona

1993
Voice 900, Multi Media performance (Installation in collaboration with 'Vertical Hold') as part of the Dunfermline Festival.

1991-92
Beltain, an environmental performance on Carlton Hill, Edinburgh

1990
Love Fables by Lee Gershuny, an experimental performance, Demarco Gallery, Spring Fling Festival, Edinburgh

Sponsorships

1996
Solaglas Ltd., Sealed Units Tempering, 6 James Street, Rigghead Industrial Estate, Bellshill, Motherwell, ML4 3JU 1994.
County Glass ltd., unit 3-4 Wessex Industrial Estate, Easton lane, Winnall, Winchester, Hampshire

1994
Cristaleria Triunfo, Puerta Nueva 46, 08003, Barcelona

1993
Wookey Hole Caves Ltd., Paper Mill, Wooky hole, Wells, Somerset

1993
Falkner Fine Art Papers, London

1993
Eastern Artifacts, 42 Royal Park Terrace, EH8 8JA, Edinburgh

1993
Out of The Nomads Tent, 21 St. Leonards lane, Edinburgh

Teaching Experience

1997-98
3 Day Intensives in Drawing from the Human Figure, Private

1995-98
P/T Drawing Lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art

1995-96
Artist in Residence at Edinburgh College of Art, Department of Applied Glass & Architectural Glass

1993
'Figure as Catalyst'S, a weekend workshop, Private 'A Course in Discovery', an 11 week Evening class, Private 1992 'Art a Language of Response', a 3 day intensive workshop in collaboration with Olivia Irvine, Private

Appointments

Professional Council member of the S.S.A. (Society of Scottish Artists)