Hossein Ghaemi (b. 1985, Tehran) presents surreal scenarios via real and imaginary characters. Secrecy and the unconscious, theatricality and mysticism operate as veiling elements in his paintings, sculptures, installations and performances. Ghaemi employs colour and materials intensely, elevating non-standard signifiers – like pistachio nuts and pomegranate juice – as vivid symbols in a hierarchy that emerges from his native Persian and Turkish cultures. The voice as a conduit for expression is an ongoing theme for both object-based and performance works. An elaborate working-out of divas.
Read MoreSince 2009, Ghaemi has developed an impressive series of surreal performance works that employ choirs for which he creates a score, abstract libretto as well as full costuming, styling and choreographing of singers. In a 2013 work presented as part of the Tiny Stadiums festival in Sydney’s inner city suburb of Erskineville, Ghaemi had his performers – three warriors -- singing from the rooftop of a defunct cake shop, engaged in combat, armed with an artillery of sonic ‘questions’.
In 2010, Ghaemi completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) at Sydney College of the Arts, The University of Sydney. Since then he has actively exhibited principally in artist-run-initiatives in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart and developed performances for festivals and arts programs in Sydney and Melbourne. Solo exhibitions (excluding performances) include a temporary outdoor sculpture, Bush Node and the Second Fiddle, for the artist-run public art program, Plinth Projects, in Melbourne's Edinburgh Gardens (2014); Spirit Awl Hickey, Vox Talent / Crest of the Pious Hex-dump! at The Commercial Gallery, Sydney (2013); Earmark on the Hoi Polloi, Honours Graduation Show, Sydney College of the Arts, The University of Sydney, Sydney (2010).
Performances include Frank: Hole up - Hold up, in the YOU'RE HISTORY festival at Performance Space, Sydney (2013); THE DEFICIENT OF SOLUTION DEVELOPMENT: QUIZZING MAKES REMEDY for Tiny Stadiums festival, Sydney (2013); 10th Edition MCA ARTBAR, curated by Michaela Gleave, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney (2013); SKIN IN ON, as part of Performance Space, Sydney’s program, NightTime: Twilight, at St Stephen’s Church, Newtown, curated by Bec Dean (2012); The Ooo in Who as part of Firstdraft Gallery’s We Are Here program at Church on Chalmers in Surry Hills, Sydney (2011); Ussef/Issiac I Can’t Tell Which One is Wearing the Hat?, at Sydney College of the Arts, the University of Sydney and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney (2009 and 2010 respectively).
Major collaborative works include a week-long performance project with Claire Finneran for Next Wave Festival, Melbourne, Artistic Director Emily Sexton and Artistic Program Manager Serena Bentley (2012); a two-person exhibition with Claire Finneran at Firstdraft Gallery, Sydney (2011); and an ambitious installation with Sydney Guild for an exhibition at The Paper Mill, Sydney (2011).
Group exhibitions include TWO/THREE at The Commercial Gallery, Sydney (2012); Wunder Pond at Tin Sheds Gallery, Sydney, curated by Sandra Di Palma (2012); OOGGA BOOGA - Hossein Ghaemi, Benjamin Ryan and Ben Terakes at The Paper Mill, Sydney; and Everything’s Alright at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney, curated by Amanda Rowell (2010).
In 2013 Ghaemi was shortlisted for the Fisher's Ghost Art Award - Contemporary Art Award section at Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney and in 2010 he was nominated for the Redlands Art Prize, Sydney by artist Lindy Lee.
Ghaemi is part of the Sydney-based collective, Sydney Guild (with Christopher Hodge and Amelia Wallin). In 2012, Sydney Guild established a regular exhibition program in their Darlinghurst studio space, supported by the City of Sydney as part of the Oxford Street Creative Spaces program.
