Colourful patchworks of identity that subvert Western portraiture canon.
Amir H. Fallah paints portraits of identity in all its multiplicitous glory. He starts by photographing people at home, among their belongings. Or as he puts it: “personal mementos, historical heirlooms and the mundane debris of life.” While the sitters do sometimes feature, Fallah favours their belongings and memories. Elements from the photoshoots are then mixed with a wealth of references from East and West. There are nods to Persian miniatures, historical maps, illuminated manuscripts, science-fiction and cartoons. Using acrylic paints, he slowly builds the busy, collage-esque compositions...
Bio
Amir H. Fallah (he/him) was born in 1979 in Tehran, Iran, and now lives and works in Los Angeles.
Did you know?
Fallah is deeply interested in the creative potential of digital art and NFTs. He minted his first NFT 'Immortal' in March 2021.
Practice
Fallah's work is rooted in his experience living between Iran and the United States. Cultural hybridity comes in visual form. Foliage from vastly different places are side by side in the paintings. Leafy tropical plants sit alongside prickly desert cacti.