///Method and Perception in Documenting Contemporary Art
Researcher and Curator: Foad Alijani
///Since 2018
/Documentation
/Research
/Archive
In contemporary art, we often encounter time-based and site-specific projects that are inherently temporal, and their raw materials possess these temporal qualities. The challenge arises in how artists can sustain their projects after their initial presentation. Should projects rooted in a specific time and space, and inherently temporary, be documented? This question leads us into the realm of conservation and preservation, which often manifests as ‘representation’ when it comes to documentation and presentation.
I initiated the Return project in 2016 as part of Paadmaan projects to explore questions in the introduction. The nature of contemporary art prompts artists with similar approaches to engage in diverse and complex experiences. These complexities create a nuanced relationship with documentation itself. Rather than pursuing research that yields static outcomes, I opted to investigate documenting contemporary art through conversations with Iranian artists, analyzing their methodologies and approaches toward documentation issues.
/// Participated artists for the interview (currently based) [Total 26 artists]:
Ali Ettehad (Iran), Amin Bagheri (Iran), Amir Farsijani (Iran), Ava Ansari (US), Azin Seraj (US), Bahareh Mirhadi (Sweden), Farhad Kalantary (Norway), Farideh Sakhaeifar (US), Golnaz Behrouznia (France), Lilian Nejatpour (England), Mahshid Mahboubifar (Germany), Mehregan Meysami (Sweden), Milad Forouzandeh (Iran), Mimi Amini (Iran), Nima Bahrehmand (US), Nooshin Rostami (US), Pendar Nabipour (Netherlands), Rouzbeh Akhbari (Canada), Sahar Te (Canada), Sara Madandar (US), Sara Rahbar (US), Setare Fatehi Irani (Netherlands), Shahrzad Changalvaee (US), Sholeh Asgary (US), Simin Keramati (Canada), Tanin Torabi (Iran).
Exhibition artists:
Arash Mirhadi
Bahare Mirhadi
Nima Bahrehmand
Mahshid Mahboubifar
Rouzbeh Akhbari
Sahar Te
May 20th, 2022 until June 10th, 2022
4 PM to 8 PM
Pejman Foundation: Kandovan building
Exhibition is closed on Saturdays.
Publication No.4, 2022
/// Return
[Research project on documenting contemporary art projects], Interview with 26 Iranian contemporary artists
Curator: Foad Alijani
Publication information: Tehran, Paadmaan projects, 2022
Number of pages: 372
Cover design: Amir Moqtada
Layout and printing: Royangaran Design Studio
1nd edition: Winter 2022, Tehran
/// Return at Supermarket Stockholm Independent Art Fair, 2021.
The project was presented by Mehregan Meysami at the fair talk series.
/// Return at third edition of Bon-Gah Art Book Fair٫ November 2020.
(initial release of the project)
