Paadmaan Projects is a curatorial initiative centered on experience as a course of dialogue through art, science, and technology. With a transdisciplinary approach, it explores the direct embodied encounter in lived contexts, treating various mediums as a form of narration. Paadmaan’s programming spans projects, workshops, and presentations, focusing on alternative pathways for artists and thinkers to collaborate and practice. These formats include mid- and long-term projects, collaborative labs, and ongoing activities.
… KvK Number: 94525366
History
Founded in 2018 in Tehran by artist-curator Foad Alijani, Paadmaan (meaning “safeguard” in Persian) began as a nomadic space for contemporary art. In 2023, it relocated to Amsterdam, and since 2024, it has been based in Rotterdam, maintaining its roots in dialogue-driven practice. Over the years, Paadmaan has developed through a series of curatorial projects engaging with cultural and environmental contexts, prioritizing embodied research over institutional norms.
Approach
At Paadmaan, art and science are not viewed as isolated disciplines but as intertwined tools for navigating the fluid boundaries of self and surroundings. Programming emphasizes:
● Dialogue as Method: Ongoing conversations that bridge personal introspection with collective reflection.
● Curatorial Experimentation: Projects that challenge conventional frameworks, making space for underrepresented voices and unconventional practices.
● Embodied Encounters: Invites participants to engage sensorially with environments, from observation to narration.
the life-world which is the world of immediate experience
/// reach out—let’s frame the next; check out aa-Studio