@agstudio.art
ASHKAN
GALEHDARI
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Digital art provides a bridge between cultural heritage and modern technology. It allows me not only to preserve and disseminate traditional cultural practices and motifs, but also to explore and reinterpret traditional art forms. Through the use of digital media, I can create new and dynamic representations of Eastern cultural heritage, and share them with a global audience. Additionally, digital art gives me the opportunity to create new forms of cultural expression and preserve cultural heritage in a digital form that can be easily accessed and shared.”
Ashkan's digital artwork creates a whole new world, one that is beyond the realm of the real world. Instead of simply depicting a new world, he takes it a step further by generating a new order within it and depicting simple scenes within this world. These scenes, although new to the audience, are familiar to the possible inhabitants of that world and can be both possible and impossible.
His art captures a "Decisive Moment" in the newly created world, including the moment just before and right after this symbolic event. By depicting this moment, the audience is invited to enter the scene like a detective and to look for clues and details that reveal the story and the meaning behind the artwork. The audience is encouraged to examine the scene. Putting their hand on the stove, to feel if it is hot or not. Examining the edge of the cup, to see if there is a trace of lipstick on it or not. Or hiding in a corner and discovering if anyone is present in the scene. This interactive approach encourages the audience to engage with the artwork and discover the new world that is created.
His artworks can be seen as a ritual in its ancient meaning, giving everyday objects a symbolic function and defamiliarizing them. This prompts the audience to look at the details and reinterpret the trivial elements of their own daily lives. The audience is forced to look at the world in a different way, to see the beauty and the meaning in the often overlooked details.
The worlds in his digital artworks are similar to the imaginary worlds of Persian paintings. These paintings depict realities that are beyond the knowledge of the world as we know it. Ashkan creates a bridge between his cultural heritage and modern technology, allowing for preservation, reinterpretation, and exploration of traditional art forms. For him, digital art is a medium for cultural exchange and understanding, bringing together different cultural perspectives and encouraging dialogue and engagement with different cultures.
BIOGRAPHY
Ashkan Galehdari (b. 1988, Tehran, Iran) is a digital artist from Amsterdam, Netherlands. His work is inspired by the cultural heritage of the East, with a focus on the vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and spiritual symbolism that are prevalent in Eastern art.
His goal is to explore the intersection of Eastern culture and digital art, combining traditional elements with modern technology to create work that is both grounded in tradition and innovative.
He believes that the integration of Eastern culture and digital art has the potential to bridge cultural divides and promote a deeper understanding of different cultures.
His work also reflects how technology can provide new perspectives on traditional art. He experiments with different techniques and mediums in his digital art, creating new forms that can be shared with a wider audience.