2019-2021
Parastoo Anoushahpour (Iran / Canada) is an artist originally from Tehran now based in Toronto working predominantly with video and installation. She holds a BA in Design for Performance, University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design; a Postgraduate Diploma from the Architectural Association School of Architecture (UK), and a Master of Fine Arts, Interdisciplinary Art, Media & Design from the Ontario College of Art & Design (Toronto). She was an artist in residence at the Mohammad and Mahera Abu Ghazaleh Foundation (Jordan), Tabakalera International Centre for Contemporary Art (Spain), Taipei Artist Village (Taiwan), ZK/U Center for Art and Urbanistics (Germany), and Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (Canada). Her recent solo and collaborative work has been shown at Punto de Vista Film Festival, Sharjah Film Platform, Viennale, NYFF, TIFF, Images Festival, IFF Rotterdam, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen, Experimenta (Bangalore), and Media City Film Festival (2015-2018). Since 2013 she has been working in collaboration with Ryan Ferko and Faraz Anoushahpour. Their shared practice explores the tension of multiple subjectivities as a strategy to address the power inherent in narrative structures. She is a 2019 Chalmers Arts Fellow.
Draped in her skin of changing colors, the amorous lady has closed her eyes, draped in her skin, she has closed her eyes, heavy lids of a seductress she has, heavy eyelids . . . unlike fish with the permanent surprise of their always-round eyes, the gaze within is always alert. Better still! She sees far, aims well. Whips lash out, as if flung by the most deft, most dexterous cowboy . . . How can anything escape this repeated embrace? She can crack open the hardest shells, while the mechanics of her breathing continue undisturbed. She will turn red, black, purple, or yellow. She remembers things…recognize things… She is offended by foul-smelling eggs and will throw them back at you violently, turning white with anger. –Jean Painlevé
Artist Links