Dariush Nehdaran born in Isfahan, Iran in 1984 is a contemporary visual artist who fearlessly defies the rules in order to bring multiple and complex meanings to his work. Through rhythmic juxtaposed images containing a variety of perspectives, he constructs a world between dream and reality and plays with clarity and depth to suggest an alternative way of seeing things.

Throughout his childhood, Dariush suffered from poor eyesight, but chose not to wear glasses to avoid the stigma of getting bullied. During that time, he experienced and viewed the world in a blurry and ambiguous way. When he became a teenager, the use of his grandfather's camera enabled him to see the world clearly for the first time in his life. The fact that he saw the world blurry though his own eyes and clear through the lens of the camera and the printed images has driven him to explore the subject of amphibology as the main topic in his work. By doing so, he has created a unique style that demands his viewers’ attention and focus as part of the resolution in his work.

Nehdaran currently lives in San Francisco but has expanded his art internationally. His photographs and video works are available both in public and private collections worldwide including the Armando Reverón Contemporary Art Museum in Caracas-Venezuela 2018, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in the US 2016, and the Salsali Private Museum in Dubai-UAE 2012.

Dariush is the recipient of multiple awards including the Nikon International Photo Contest in Japan 2015, the Hamghadam Photo Festival in France 2010, and the 7th Image of the Year Festival in Tehran 2010.

DARIUSH NEHDARAN (Born 1984 Isfahan, Iran)

EDUCATION

2007 - BFA, Painting, Elm & Farhang University, Tehran, Iran

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Since 2010 - National Iranian Photographers Society

AWARDS

2022 - Psychology of Travel’s contest, USA
2015 - International Nikon Photo Contest, Category D Open theme, photo story: 3rd place, Japan
2010 - Hamghadam Photo Festival, Environment Category: 1st place, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
2010 - 7th Image of the Year Festival, Video Category: 1st place, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

2023 - Detroit Institute of Arts Museum (DIA), Detroit, USA
2018 - Armando Reverón Contemporary Art Museum, Caracas, Venezuela
2016 - Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles, USA
2015 - Didi Museum, Mazandaran, Iran
2012 - Salsali Private Museum, Dubai, UAE

RECOGNITION

2023 - Photo London Art Fair, Somerset House, London, UK
2022 - 19th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2021 - 18th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2020 - Photo London Art Fair, Somerset House, London, UK
2020 - View from the Window, Poznań Art Week, Wolnica, Poland
2020 - Photo LA Art Fair, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, USA
2020 - 17th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2019 - Photo London Art Fair, Somerset House, London, UK
2018 - II Bienal del Sur, Pueblos en Resistencia, Caracas, Venezuela
2018 - 15th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2017 - 14th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division/Social documentary, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2016 - 13th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2015 - Auction 2.0, Emergeast, VIDA Downtown, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2014 - 11th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2013 - 10th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2013 - 10th Image of the year Festival, Video Category, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2012 - Centrefold 8, London, UK
2012 - 12th Iranian National Biennial of Photography, Tehran and Yazd, Iran
2012 - 9th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2012 - 9th Image of the year Festival, Video Category, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2012 - 3rd Photos of Women and Urban Life Festival, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2011 - Slamdance Film Festival genius, Utah, California, USA
2011 - 1st Katara Art Center International Video Art and Digital Art Festival, Doha, Qatar
2011 - Contemporary Art Prize, Finalist, Royal college of Art, London, UK
2011 - 8th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2011 - 8th Image of the year Festival, Video Category, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2011 - Contemporary Art Prize, Shortlist, Traffic Gallery, Dubai
2011 - Noor Festival, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2010 - 1st Hamghadam Festival, Video Category, Sorbonne University, France
2010 - 7th Image of the Year Festival: Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2009 - International Photo Exhibition and Competition: Iran the land of Monotheism Religion, Imam Ali Museum Of Arts, Tehran, Iran
2008 - 6th Image of the Year Festival, Innovation Division, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2008 - Human & Traffic Festival, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2008 - Selected for Art’s Month Photography Festival, Mah–e–Mehr Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2008 - Selected for 2nd Damoon Far Visual Art Festival, Niavaran Cultural Center, Tehran, Iran
2007 - Iranian Students International Photography and Film Festival, Tehran, Iran
2006 - 10th Iranian Photo Biennial, Innovative Photographer Category, Saba Cultural Centre, Tehran, Iran
2004 - 1st Digital Photography Competition, Niavaran Place, Tehran, Iran

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2018 - "AMPHIBOLOGY" An anthology of photographs, Elga Wimmer Gallery, New York, USA
2016 - Shadows of the Tenderloin, Smash Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2012 - Ettelaat, Shokouh Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2008 - Urban Rivers, Iran Art Organization, Tehran, Iran
2007 - Contemporary Portrait, Khak Gallery, Tehran, Iran

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023 - Brazil x Iran, Color & Forms, High Line Nine Gallery 4, New York, USA
2022 - Magic of Persia Charity Art Exhibition & Auction Gala, London, UK
2021 - Once Upon a Time, Advocartsy Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
2020 - Photogenic, Soo Contemporary Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2020 - Self-reflection, High Line Nine, Gallery 9.1, New York, USA
2018 - Art Brief IV: Iranian Contemporary North America, Somarts Cultural Center, San Francisco, USA
2018 - Magic of Persia, Art Exhibition & Auction Gala, Bonhams, Los Angles, USA
2018 - Magic of Persia, Art Exhibition & Auction Gala, Monaco, EU
2018 - Behnam Foundation, Auction & Art Exhibition, Behnam Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2018 - If So What Art Fair, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, USA
2016 - Artnet auctions, Advocartsy space, Los Angeles, USA
2016 - Art Brief II: Iranian Contemporary North America, Arena 1 Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
2016 - Untitled, Ordibehesht Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2015 - Untitled, Art Ark Gallery, San Jose, California
2013 - By Iranian Contemporary Photographers, Mellat Gallery & Cineplex, Tehran, Iran
2013 - Untitled, Shokouh Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2012 - Text me, lawrieshabibi Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2012 - Saba Photo, Farhangsaraye Saba gallery, Tehran, Iran
2012 - Magic of Persia, Art Exhibition & Auction Gala, Salsali Private Museum, Dubai, UAE
2011 - Iranian Pulse, Cultural Center "Hello Future", Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2011 - 1st Modern & Contemporary Visual Art Auction, Shirin Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2011 - The first Tehran Painting Market, Barg Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2010 - Magic of Persia Charity Art Exhibition & Auction Gala, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2010 - Encyclopaedia Iranica Charity Art Exhibition, New York, USA
2010 - Seven...?!, Day Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2010 - Untitled, Neel Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2007 - Eternal Papers, Contemporary Arts Museum, Isfahan, Iran
2007 - Photography Expo, Esteqlal hotel, Tehran, Iran
2005 - Untitled, Bahman Cultural Centre, Tehran, Iran

There is never a dull moment. I often surprise myself with what I say and what I do! This is what I enjoy most and try to create the same experience for others. Through photography and videos I direct an improvised story as it is happening. I record it with a manipulated frame and, in a way, add more spice and complication to it. This way when the audience looks at that moment, they see various meanings.

For me, following the rules is an anathema. I'd like to delve into reality, discover and expose it, to create an individual and alternate interpretation. I believe you can always find something new in your routine daily life. My photographs can reveal something new to me every day; and by using paradox I try to add to its mystery and create a dream world to escape rules. I think you can see an upside down image that would still make sense to you. I believe everyone can have their own rules.