Shahpour Pouyan & Sahand Hesamiyam has been shortlisted for the 4th edition of the Jameel Prize. The prize is the Victoria & Albert Museum’s international art prize for contemporary artists and designers inspired by Islamic traditions of craft and design. Pouyan’s nominated work is his series of domes entitled Unthinkable Thought, 2014 currently on display at Grey Art Gallery, NYU as part of Globa/Local 1960 -2015 Six Artists From Iran.
Hesamiyan will show two works too. Khalvat (2014) translates as a hidden, private sanctum. A paper maquette, it reveals the production process in which Hesamiyan adopts the traditional triangular form of Rasmi, a shape used in secular and religious buildings, and juxtaposes the external embellished Iranian architecture with its carcass form to reveal the inward and the sacred. Hesamiyan will also show the imposing steel work Nail (2012). This single large nail substitutes the original four small nails as an emblematic and arresting symbol of the crucifixion.
Over 280 nominations for the Jameel Prize 4 were received from countries as far ranging as Afghanistan, Mali, Puerto Rico and Thailand. The V&A shortlist of 11 artists and designers includes David Chalmers Alesworth, Rasheed Araeen, Lara Assouad, Canan, Cevdet Erek, Sahand Hesamiyan, Shahpour Pouyan, Lucia Koch, Ghulam Mohammad Wael Shawky and Bahia Shehab.
