artist-curator
stand in Rotterdam
foadalijanistudio@gmail.com
@foadalijani
Foad Alijani is a media artist whose work draws from memory and imagination. Through imaginal maps, installations, and film, his research-led practice inhabits lived experience, moving across the terrain of embodied perception. Central to his practice is the concept of the image-event, concerned with the emergence of images. He explores how inner and outer worlds intersect and transform one another, forming an architecture of experience. Since 2018, he has led his curatorial initiative, Paadmaan Projects, centered on experience as a course of dialogue through art, science, and technology.
mini CV [for full version including grants list, please send an email]
Education
Master of DAI Art Praxis — ArtEZ University of the Arts, Netherlands, 2025.
Master of Arts in Research — Soore University of Art, Tehran, Iran, 2015.
Bachelor of Applied Art — Isfahan University of Art, Isfahan, Iran, 2008.
Solo Exhibitions / Projects
[Mist] — an essay film, produced in the Netherlands, 2025.
[N] — Nida Art Colony, Nida, Lithuania, 2024.
[Cloud and Moon] — Centrale Fies, Dro, Italy, 2024.
[When I Was Five] — PAF (Performing Arts Forum), St Erme, France, 2024.
[Coextensive Points] — Yatoo (Korean Nature Artists’ Association), Gongju, South Korea, 2017.
[Lines] — Institut für Alles Mögliche, Berlin, Germany, 2016.
[Inventory] — La Cabine Art Space, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 2016.
[Equation] — Saye Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2015.
[Reminiscence] — Jorjani Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2013.
[Fluid Dream] — Gallery of Isfahan University of Art, Isfahan, Iran, 2008.
Selected Awards and Grants
– Pictoright Fund [project grant, 2026].
– TivoliVredenburg [project grant, 2026].
– CBK Rotterdam [project grant, 2025].
– Sedje Hémon Foundation [scholarship, 2024].
– Juxtapose Art Fair [exhibition grant, 2023].
– Galleri CC in support of Swedish Film Institute [artist grant, 2021].
– SUPERMARKET Stockholm Independent Art Fair [exhibition grant, 2020].
Grant-Funded Residencies
– IMPAKT (Centre for Media Culture) [CODE 2026, Utrecht, Netherlands, 2026].
– Interface Inagh (Studio for Where Science Meets Art in Galway, Ireland) [remote-residency, 2017].
– Yatoo (Korean Nature Artists’ Association) [Gongju, South Korea, 2017].
– Institut für Alles Mögliche [Berlin, Germany, 2016].
– Artistes en Résidence [Clermont-Ferrand, France, 2016].
Selected Group Shows
– GODI / Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, Netherlands, 2026.
– Canvas / TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands, 2026.
– To see the Forest for the Pines / State Gallery of Contemporary Art (SPEL), Nicosia, Cyprus, 2025.
– As 13 Grams of Lines / private space, Tehran, Iran, 2021.
– CARBON 18 / contemporary art event in Saint-Étienne, France, 2018.
– France-Iran Exchange Program / Mohsen Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2016.
– Sadra Eco Park Land Art Festival / Shiraz, Iran, 2015.
Screenings
– Mist: . Go Short – International Short Film Festival Nijmegen, Netherlands, 2026.
– Lines: . Galleri CC, supported by the Swedish Film Institute, Malmö, Sweden, 2021.
– TeTo: . Athens Digital Arts Festival, Athens, Greece, 2020.
Artistic Affiliations
– Representative Council (Medezeggenschapsraad) at ArtEZ University of the Arts / (elected member) 2025.
– Nomadic School of Arts (KASK & Conservatorium) / (partner with Paadmaan projects) 2022-present.
– LASER (Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous) / (chair) 2021-2023.
– Artistes en Résidence / Clermont-Ferrand, France, (member) 2018.
– Iranian Museum of Graphic Design / (member) 2017-2023.
– Iran Council of Graphic Design Association (partner of ICOGRADA) / (member) 2013-present.
Selected Publications
¬ Book: Memory Moonlit (forthcoming)
¬ Article: “N”
Amsterdam Alternative Newspaper, no. 57 (Nov-Dec 2024).
¬ Article: “Cloud and Moon”
Amsterdam Alternative Newspaper, no. 55 (Jul-Aug 2024).
¬ Book: BARG volume (1, 2, 3)
volume 1: Fluid Dream / volume 2: Between / volume 3: Lines (2019-2022).
¬ Book: Return
[Research Project on Documenting Contemporary Art Projects] (Paadmaan projects, 2022).
¬ Essay and Photos: “Tehran: A Shapeshifter”
SuperMarket Artist-Run Art Magazine, no. 11 (October 2021).
¬ Book: Inner Telescope: A Space Work by Eduardo Kac
introduction to Eduardo Kac’s project in Iran (Paadmaan projects, 2019).
¬ Book: “The Old Shop Signs of Tehran Trades”
(Tehran Beautification Organization, 2018).
¬ Article: “Contemporary Art and the Issue of Art in the City”
Iran Newspaper, Visual Arts Section, no. 6758 (April 18, 2018).
¬ Essay: “Knife Wood Carving in Persian Woodworking”
The Proceedings of the 2nd Conference on Iranian Forgotten Treasures, Iran Academy of Art (November 2011).
¬ Concept: “Relation Between Two Nature’s Elements”
Wadden Art Festival, “Footprints Along A Coastline” (August 2008).
index
¬ Workshop: Afterimage
ROZENSTRAAT, Amsterdam (2026).
¬ Workshop: Body Memory
CORPO Rotterdam and The Hub Arnhem (2024-2025).
¬ Interview and Project Review: Coextensive Points
Yatoo Artist in Residence Book (November 2017).
¬ Inventory Features
La Belle Revue, no. 6 (July 22, 2016) and Kooshk Residency Annual Book (2016).
¬ Exhibition Review: Reminiscence and Equation
by Mahmoud Maktabi, Asia Newspaper, no. 708 (February 16, 2016).
¬ Interview: Channel 4, Iran Broadcasting
about the Reminiscence exhibition (September 2013).
¬ Exhibition Review: “Electric, Reminiscence, Motor”
short criticism of Reminiscence exhibition, by Javad Hasanjani, Tandis Visual Art Magazine, no. 258 (September 2013).
¬ Review: “Meet the Artist”
Iran Azin Magazine, no. 91 (December 2008).