HALEH JAMALI
Lives and works in Iran and United Kingdom
Biography
Education:
Interior Design Diploma, 2011, London-UK
Arts Education in Practice Professional Development Award, 2009, SQA, Glasgow-UK
MA Art and Media Practice, 2007, University of Westminster, London-UK
BA Painting, 2005,University of Tehran, Tehran-Iran
Awards:
6° International Arte Laguna Prize, Shortlisted, Nappe of Arsenale of Venice –Italy
Haleh’s artwork appears in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally. Most recent exhibitions of her work include: Nuit Blanch, Arta Gallery, Toronto-Canada; Facade Video Festival, Old Town of Plovdiv- Bulgaria; The Venice Art Night, Arte Laguna Prize, Telecom Future Centre, Venice –Italy, Finalist Exhibition of Arte Laguna Prize, Nappe of Arsenale of Venice–Italy; |FAT| Fashion Art Toronto Festival, multi-arts event, Toronto-Canada, HB55 Räume der Kunst, group show, Berlin-Germany, Atbin Gallery, Tehran-Iran
Artist statement
Haleh works with a wide range of media and techniques that have included painting, photography, installation and video. Her interest in portraiture and narrative stems from a desire to address the social aspects of representation, particularly in relation to the female gender and with a concern for the hidden layers beneath that which is visible. Haleh states: “For me, the diversity, versatility, and unrivalled ability of portraits to communicate, make them an enigma. Indeed, my particular concern is to reveal the paradoxes and ambiguities behind the eyes of the portrait subject who tries to communicate emotions, arrest attention, and often express feelings of both attraction and repulsion”. Encouraging an intimate relationship between the viewer and the subject, Haleh considers how an individual’s identity can be constructed in relation to Others, while simultaneously suggesting that the Self and the Other are inseparable.
MONICA DE IOANNI
Lives and works in Italy and United Kingdom
Biography
Monica has been trained independently in Contemporary Dance, Dance Improvisation, Physical Theatre (ODIN Teatret), Dance Theatre (Julie Stanzack Wuppertal Tanzteater of Pina Baush), Dance of Orixias (Augusto Omolù). Based in Edinburgh she is founder, company dancer and outreach developer in LaNua dance company. She participates in different community performing art projects in UK and abroad (Italy, France, Singapore, Bali, Australia). She is also part of Breton puppet theatre company Théâtre de la Camelote.
Monica has taken part in different performances nationally and internationally. Her most recent performances include: “Reflections” at the International woman’s day Tramway-Glasgow, “ENSO” at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2010- Edinburgh, “Le dedans du dehor” at Manimagine festival -France, “Dissections” – HamletZar at the 176 / Zabludowicz Collection -London, “One shoe adagio” at Isola delle Meraviglie Festival Teathre – Venezia.
Artist statement
Monica’s interest is to connect both with place and with the creativity of the viewer/participator involved in her performances. She develops her work in different site-specific settings and her style refers to Third Theatre approach. Through performance she aims to bring to light the connection between a contingent and intimate experience with a universal and timeless dramaturgy. She has also fascination in working with the Contemporary Marionette – it allows the emergence of singular and perceptible poetic universes. Monica states: “When I perform I dance from within the body. To dance is to think, to sense, to communicate through movements involving the whole body-mind, the memory and the life inside us”.
akasmika-danceimprov.blogspot.com