Believing that recording the moments of resistance is an important step in building an alternate history, currently I create works about the intersection of personal narratives and collective struggles. For me, working with hand painted film, stop motion animation and puppets is a way to resist brutal political reality with playfulness. The crudeness of the movements in stop motion animation, detailed puppets with photo faces and miniature objects create a bizarre picture that do not follow a familiar routine or logic. Using critical humor is a tactic to subvert the rationalized networks of power and control.
Born in 1983, Tehran, Iran
Selected Exhibitions and Screenings
2011
• THIS IS A RECORDING: Video Art & Video Documentation of Performance Art, Tucson, AZ
• Iranian Pulse, Contemporary Iranian Photography and Video, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Norman Invasion! , MFA show at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
• OtherIS/TVDinner, Immigrant Movement International, New York City, NY
• ARTGREASE: Public Access Cable Show of Peepshow, Buffalo, NY
• Emerging Artist Show, Limner Gallery, Hudson, NY
• PEEPSHOW2011: It's Complicated, Squeaky Wheel, Buffalo, NY
• LAB AD group show, BECA Foundation, Albuquerque, NM
2010
• Emerging Artists, MAINSITE Contemporary Art, Norman, OK
• DARKLIGHTWELL, Lightwell Gallery, Norman, OK
• Cold Mobile Art in 10 Pieces, street performance project, Norman, OK
• Momentum Spot Light, Curators: Shannon Fitzgerald & Sarah Jesse, Tulsa, OK
• DeadCENTER Film Festival, Oklahoma City, OK
• It Is What It Is (IIWII), Sonder Music & Dance, Norman, OK
• Momentum 2010, OVAC (Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition), Oklahoma City, OK
2005 to 2009
• Animation Screening at the TMU Art School, (Tarbiat Modares University), Tehran, Iran, 2009
• Raed Gallery group show, Bahman Cultural Center, Tehran, Iran, 2008
• Closets (solo show), Aria Gallery, in collaboration with photographer Hannah Darabi, Tehran, Iran, 2007
• Anti Memories, in a destroyed house, Tehran, Iran, 2005
Grants & Awards
2011- Individual Artist Award, Norman Arts Council
2011-2012 - Sooner Heritage Scholarship, University of Oklahoma
2010 - Momentum Spotlight Honorarium, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition
2009 to 2012 - Madeline Colbert Steed Fellowship, University of Oklahoma
2003 & 2004 - Merit Scholarship for Exceptional Talents, University of Tehran, Iran
Professional Experiences
2011 - Presentation at the Oklahoma Art Education Association Conference
2010 & 2011 - Teacher Assistantship (in Video I & Video II), Media program, School of Art, University of Oklahoma
2010 - Co–Curator for the Smoke & Mirrors International show, Lightwell Gallery, Norman, OK
Work Reviews in English
• Direct Art Magazine, New York, published artist statement , Fall 2011
• Grossman, Susan, Six Artists on the Rise, Art Focus Oklahoma, January/February 2011
• Watts, James, Fresh Talent, Tulsa World, October 9, 2010
• Karper, Kelsey, Momentum Tulsa Spotlight 2010, Art Focus Oklahoma, September/October 2010
Education
• MFA Anticipated degree 2012, emphasis in Media, University of Oklahoma, School of Art & Art History
• MA 2009 Motion Picture, TMU (Tarbiat Modares University), Tehran, Iran
• BA 2005 Visual Communication, University of Tehran, Facility of Fine Arts, Tehran, Iran
email: tara.najdahmadi@gmail.com
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