You Are Welcome: In Conversation with Elaheh Raofi and Parham Ghalamdar
Date: Friday 21 June
Time: From 3 PM
Location: Nottingham Refugee Forum Community Garden
Tickets: £9 + £0.38 booking fee
Grab a plate of food from around the world and enjoy a rich and insightful conversation between multidisciplinary artists Elaheh Raofi and Parham Ghalamdar.
‘You Are Welcome’ is part of Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum‘s Taste the World Party hosted in their beautiful community garden to celebrate Refugee Week. Taste the World Party is an extension of warmth and hospitality, offering the opportunity to connect with cultures from around the globe living here in Nottingham through the universally familiar language of a shared meal.
Joining Transition + Transit artist Elaheh Raofi and UK New Artist of the Year 2023 Finalist Parham Ghalamdar for their conversation, you can expect to learn about the Persian influences woven into their work, their artistic practices, and their experiences as early career artists.
Event Details
15:00 – 17:00 Arrival and shared meal
17:00 You Are Welcome: In Conversation with Elaheh Raofi and Parham Ghalamdar
Taste the World Party ends at 19:00
Elaheh Raofi
Elaheh Raofi is a multidisciplinary artist whose work is deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Middle East, particularly drawing inspiration from Persian symbols and metaphors.
Her recent installation Pirouz pays homage to Pirouz and the courageous Iranian women tirelessly fighting for their rights. Elaheh continues to use her practice of blending across varied art forms to draw attention to crucial issues while blending modernity with a deep respect for the rich traditions that inspire her work.
Parham Ghalamdar
Parham Ghalamdar, born in Iran in 1994, embarked on his artistic journey through graffiti as a means of protest before transitioning into a painter now based in the UK. He completed his MA in Oil Painting from the Manchester School of Art in 2021, upholding an experimental approach.
Ghalamdar’s diverse body of work encompasses various mediums, including stop-cell animations, ceramics, and AI-generated pieces, all deeply rooted in a painterly ethos. His unique fusion of Indo-Persian and Western traditions enables him to challenge conventional narratives. Notably, his recent solo exhibition, “Painting, An Unending,” held at HOME’s main gallery in Manchester, represents a significant milestone in his career, complemented by showcases at esteemed venues such as the Rebecca Hossack Gallery and Pipeline Gallery.
Ghalamdar’s contributions have been recognized with accolades such as the UK New Artists bursary 2023, DYCP grant, and Innovative Grant. His works grace both private and public collections, including the Government’s Art Collection and the University of Salford Art Collection, underscoring his burgeoning influence in the art world.
