Benji Boyadgian
Traces
December 16, 2016–January 16, 2017
Opening: Friday, December 16, 7pm
Art Rooms
Kyrenia
Cyprus
Hours: Wednesday–Monday noon–10pm
T +90 392 816 1010
artrooms [at] arkingroup.com
Art Rooms, Kyrenia is pleased to announce the solo exhibition Traces of Palestinian/Finnish/Armenian artist Benji Boyadgian.
Curated by the Turkish curator Basak Senova, the exhibition presents a body of work spanning over a few year. Starting with the Jerusalem Show VII, Senova has been working with Boyadgian since 2013 on an accumulation of projects.
Boyadgian’s research-based works feature encounters with architectural relics, and with consequences of political and social situations pertaining to his background, in combination with imageries of his perception. These projects explore themes revolving around heritage, territory, architecture and landscape.
Boyadgian mostly uses painting and drawing as the main tools to convey his subject matters. Nevertheless, Traces contains various medias, including photography, animatıon, and spatial installation. Cyprus, through its landscape and long history share some similarities with Palestine that has inspired Boyadgian to work in the island. The contexts are different, but a set of questions that interest him in general are shared. The exhıibition meanders through different thoughts about traces, such as altering durations, voids, and moments.
A book, edited by Basak Senova and published by Art Rooms, will be launched during the exhibition. The book discusses Boyadgian’s works and related issues, accompanied by reflections by authors such as Basak Senova, Behzad Khosravi, Funda Senova Tunalı, Gürgenç Korkmazel, Jonatan Habib Enqvist, Nadide Gizem Akgülgil Mutlu, Oya Silbery and Yoann Morvan.
Benji Boyadgian (1983, Jerusalem) studied architecture at ENSAPLV School of Architecture (L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris La Villette), specializing in urban sociology in post-conflict areas.
His solo shows are A journey into Abstrabesque, Al Ma’mal Foundation, Jerusalem (2013); and Vanishing Landscapes, Al Kahf Gallery, Bethlehem (2010). Boyadgian also internationally exhibited in Jerusalem Show VII, under the coverage of Qalandiya International Biennial, Jerusalem (2014); Spinning On An Axis under the coverage of curated by at Mario Mauroner Contemporary Art, Vienna (2014); Line, Art Rooms, Kyrenia (2015); Stepping Over the Borders, European Mediterranean Art Association (EMMA), Nicosia (2015); Shared Religious Places, Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilization (MuCEM), Marseille (2015); Skånes på Linero: De lovade oss en skola, de lovade en simhall, Skanes Konstförening, Lund (2016); Lines of Passage (in medias res) The Municipal Art Gallery of Mytilene, Lesvos (2016).
Boyadgian attended the Young Artists Residency Program of Confrontation Through Art Project, organized by EMAA and Rooftop Theatre Group, Nicosia and was a grant holder at IASPIS, Stockholm. He was been co-awarded the Ismail Shammout Prize 2015 in Palestine and finalist of the Celeste Award 2016.
Benji Boyadgian lives and works in Jerusalem.
For further inquiries about the book launch and the exhibition please contact artrooms [at] arkingroup.com.
