︎︎︎ Bodies of Work

built in the midst
Hamed Dehqan

Site-specific installation

14.07 – 24.07

built in the midst explores similarities, repetition, and differences in a magical constellation of references. The elements of the installation function as sculptures, feelings, or contexts, according to the physical position of the observer. The visitor is therefore guided into the chapel in a constantly renovated discovery of various levels of visibility, seeing distinct compositions in relation to where they are standing.

This exhibition presents the transition from Hamed Dehqan’s former practice based in Iran to the development of his projects as an artist in residence at HISK. His previous site-specific installations took shape within these spaces with found objects that unfolded the collective life experience among plants and their behaviour as a form of (comparative study in) discovering the social human life. Plants and objects in those installations were used in a figurative manner and were the main subject of his study. For this project he keeps exploring relative materials, colours, textures and shapes through objects in his installations. In his previous works he was an observer of his surroundings with a contemporary language defying to accept the classical form of painting and sculpture.

“If moving forward meant creating a bigger scale installation, I take a step back, to transform a three dimensional image into two dimensional colour, form, and texture.”

The artist’s practice is based on personal studies and research around phenomena of language and perception, engaging in a studio-based practice that creates a unique formal language through sculptural installations, multi-dimensional spatial drawings, and paintings. Dehqan is an artist in residence at HISK Academy in Ghent (2022-2023) doing practice-based research in visual arts. His work has been shown at 3-Platform, Tehran, Iran, CalArts Expo, California, USA, and Lona Galeria, São Paulo, Brazil. In 2016, he started the Pansion Project, an art project space. He has also worked as a writer in collaboration with art magazines in Iran.

The exhibition was supported by an artist talk which took place on Saturday 23.07 in the garden of Extra City Kunsthal.

Curated by
Yasaman Tamizkar, Valentina Bianchi

Graphic Design
Bodies of Work

Exhibition supported by
HISK Advanced Studies and Practice-based Research in Visual Arts