Summary
New media artist working with a focus on the representation of middle eastern culture through innovative art-making methods.
Biography
Orkhan Mammadov (b. 1990, Ganja, Azerbaijan) is a pioneering media artist from Azerbaijan who has emerged on the international scene since representing his home country in the Venice Biennial in 2019. He uses Islamic patterns and carpet illustrations and paintings as a dataset in his artificial intelligence & machine learning-driven cultural phygital data sculptures & paintings. His works reflect on the rapid and chaotic technological changes in the global context by rethinking middle eastern art & cultural heritage.
Orkhan Mammadov
Artist Statement
Standing at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, my artistic journey aims to redefine the perception of Eastern culture through ground-breaking art-making methods. In a rapidly changing world, where technology continues to transform the way we perceive and interact with our surroundings, I am driven by the desire to explore uncharted territory where past meets present, where tangible and intangible heritage assets converge, and where the virtual and the real coexist.
Our rich cultural heritage, deeply embedded in the intricate patterns of carpets and the vibrant history of the Middle East, has long been a source of inspiration for me. This legacy, which I inherited from my upbringing in Azerbaijan’s culturally rich Ganja city, has fuelled my personal interest in digitising and regenerating our shared heritage. Today, I envision a world where the intellectual, emotional, and aesthetic implications of artificial visual cultural artefacts challenge our understanding of reality and inspire us to question our own existence.
In my artistic journey, I am constantly inspired by new media trends on the global stage, as well as by local youth subcultures that are seeking to redefine history and culture. My goal is to foster a deeper understanding of the legacy of tangible and intangible heritage assets from Azerbaijan and the wider Middle East while embracing innovative approaches that push the boundaries of artistic expression. I examine the alternative conditions of cultural heritage perception. I focus on the integration of cultural and historical codes into new media, aiming to create a seamless fusion of our everyday life with the digital realm.
Using cultural artefacts such as Islamic patterns, Orientalist paintings and carpet illustrations as datasets, I endeavour to create digital alternatives that represent and reposition the cultural heritage of the Middle East for future generations. By merging the official and unofficial emblems of our heritage, I initiate conversations about the evolving relationship between machine intelligence and cultural identity, and the potential impact of emerging technologies on the future of art and cultural representation.
As a new media artist, I am acutely aware of the responsibility that comes with exploring the intersection of art, technology, and cultural heritage. I strive to maintain an ethical and sensitive approach in my work, addressing power dynamics, fostering collaboration with communities and cultural practitioners, and navigating legal and intellectual property issues.
At this pivotal moment in the history of art, I invite you to join me in reimagining our Eastern cultural heritage through the digital lens, forging new connections, and challenging the boundaries of artistic expression. I believe that the interplay between utopia and dystopia, the body and technology, and the historical and the contemporary is essential to shaping our collective future. Together, let us weave a new tapestry of creativity, where the threads of our past intertwine with the promise of our future, and where the richness of our shared heritage is celebrated and preserved for generations to come.
Solo shows
Carpetdiem Experiments. Foundry, Dubai. UAE. 2023
Echoes of Alhambra. House of Fine Arts & Scorpios. Mykonos, Greece. 2023
Revival of Aesthetics 2.0. Kanvas Gallery. Dubai. UAE. 2023
Eastern Promises. Art Dubai, Art in Space Gallery. Dubai, UAE. 2023
FLUX Melting carpets. Collab with Radugadesign. Art in Space Gallery. Dubai, UAE. 2023
Shahnameh. Art in Space. Dubai, UAE. 2023
RELIC. Decipher Algorand Blockchain Summit. Dubai, UAE. 2022
Singularity in Heritage. Art Dubai, Gazelle Art House. Dubai, UAE. 2022
Revival of Aesthetics. Theatre of Digital Art, Dubai, UAE. 2022
2 Point Perspective. Yarat Contemporary Art Center, Baku, Azerbaijan. 2016
VOID. Yarat Contemporary Art Center, Baku, Azerbaijan. 2015
Group shows
Carpetdiem Experiments 2023. Asprey Studio, Frieze. London, UK
Coded Sanctity. Dubai Calligraphy Biennale. AWC Gallery. Dubai, UAE. 2023
Beyond the Image. House of Fine Arts. London, UK. 2023
Excavating EX Machina - curated by Raina Marie. Lume Studios. New York, USA. 2023
Carpetdiem. Boulevart Digita Art Festival. Dubai, UAE. 2023
Sikka Festival. Dubai, UAE. 2023
Rhizomatic. Museum of the Future. Dubai, UAE. 2023
Miami Web3 Summit. Miami, USA. 2022
B3 Biennale of Moving Images. Frankfurt, Germany. 2022
Generative Gallery Showcase. 1703 art fair, Saint Petersburg, Russia. 2022
Tomorrow NFT showcase. Ramat Gan Museum of Israeli Art. Ramat Gan, Israel. 2022
Cosmoscow art fair. Moscow Russia. 2022
Miami Art Basel, Miami, USA. 2021
Future of Textile, Baku, Azerbaijan. 2021
Contemporary Istanbul. Istanbul, Turkiye. 2021
Venice Biennale, Azerbaijan Pavilion. Venice, Italy. 2019
Moscow International Contemporary Art Biennale. 2019
Lunchmeat Festival. Audiovisual Performance, Prague, Czech Republic. 2019
Gamma Festival Audiovisual Performance, Saint Petersburg Russia. 2018
Dave Festival, Audiovisual Performance, Dresden, Germany. 2018
Lunchmeat Festival Audiovisual Performance, Prague, Czech Republic. 2017
Intervals Festival. Installation, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia. 2017
Yarat! Public Art Festival, Installation, Baku, Azerbaijan. 2013
Lectures
Digital Transformation in Art. Generative Gallery x VK. 2023
Digital Transformation in Art. Abu Dhabi Art, Abu Dhabi, UAE. 2022
Awards