Morehshin Allahyari: The Romantic Self-Exiles opens Sept. 26-October 31 in the Exhibition Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center
2012-10-1 — /travelprnews.com/ — Industry of the Ordinary: Sic Transit Gloria Mundi (IOTO) which continues at the Chicago Cultural Center through February 17, 2013, includes a new artist’s installation on the center platform every six week periods. Opening on September 26 – October 31 on the Center Platform is Morehshin Allahyari: The Romantic Self-Exiles.
In keeping with IOTO artists Mathew Wilson and Adam Brooks overall theme of finding power and beauty in the everyday, new media artist Morehshin Allahyari expresses what is now her ordinary life – that of someone raised in Tehran who left, coming to the U.S. to continue her studies; she now lives in diaspora. Emotions are questioned as memories are often romanticized for many who leave a past behind.
Allahyari is a new media artist and an art activist. She was born and raised in Iran and moved to the United States in 2007. Her creative and research interests encompass 3D animation, digital filmmaking, web-art / design, and performance plus her work involves extensive activity as a curator and producer. Her practice includes the social, political and cultural issues of Iran, creative writing, art activism, media art, and collaborative art.
The Cultural Center show at IOTO will have a 3D animation piece as well as a multi-media installation. The installation consists of urbanscape made of 20 transparent Plexiglas cubes and Milad tower (the tallest tower in Tehran and new symbol of the city). Videos are projected on these cubes, pass through and reflect on the three-D model, creating a sense of dream and blurry memories.
“With all the over layered videos, It’s hard to tell what is exactly going on, but one can see the buildings, trees, and lights of the city expanded to walls and ceiling; Like a city with citizens floating in between,” said the artist.
Industry of the Ordinary: Sic Transit Gloria Mundi is a ten-year retrospective of the collaborative team of Adam Brooks and Mathew Wilson. Admission is free and hours coincide with Cultural Center hours (Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; closed holidays).
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Cindy Gatziolis 312.744.0573