Brendan Dawes: Persian Dreams Art Dubai 2023 | NFT CULTURE | Web3 Culture NFTs and Crypto Art

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Art Dubai 2023 will showcase the work of renowned digital artist Brendan Dawes, who will debut his new series ‘Persian Dreams’ at the event. The exhibition, presented by Gazelli Art House, is part of the fair’s New Media section and will feature four screens of fascinating and metamorphosing images. Dawes has combined visual, linguistic, audio and dance facets of artistic expression to create this new work, which draws inspiration from The Book of Kings, also known as the Shahnameh, an epic poem from Iran.

The Shahnameh tells of a Persian golden age via around 50,000 couplets, written by the native poet Ferdowsi between c. 977 and 1010 AD Dawes’ work offers a renewed and digitized interpretation of the epic poem, providing a preservation of mythologies and stories that give the artwork a mystical and scientific agency.

The series consists of four distinct parts: Persian Dreams: Heroes, Persian Dreams: Dynasties, Persian Dreams: Creation and Persian Dreams: Monument. Each section is inspired by different ages of the Shahnameh, and the visuals are choreographed to the movements of dancer Charlotte Edmonds, shown across three uniform screens, while a fourth larger screen draws from the whole.

“I have always felt the promise offered by new technology, and especially AI is the ability to see things in a new way, beyond our own imaginations. Yet these technologies do not sit alone: ​​they are built on previous experiences together with universal themes that run through each and every one of us Persian dreamsI have embraced these new tools, yet melded them with the stories of Shahnameh, an epic poem thousands of years old, to create a lens we can use to see how stories told a thousand years ago still resonate today, even in a modern context.” —Brendan Dawes

Madota, an artist duo, has scored the exhibition with experimental soundscapes that incorporate elements of zoorkhaneh, traditional athletic rituals. The verses and images of the Shahnameh are manifested in random oscillations between figuration and abstraction. Madota has described the exhibition as a “deep sense of history and the passage of time”, “a journey with the mighty heroes within the myths and legends that embody Iran’s golden past”, “rooted in simplicity and airiness” and “like a lucid dream”.

Brendan Dawes uses generative processes involving data, machine learning and code to create interactive installations, electronic objects, online experiences, computer visualizations, motion graphics and physical sculptures. His work often revolves around the concepts of time and memory, and draws inspiration from popular culture and nature. Dawes’ analytical investigations interrogate our understanding of the outside world.

In addition to his physical works, Dawes has also ventured into the world of NFTs, with his Genesis NFT on KnownOrigin selling to legendary collector WhaleShark within an hour. His work has been shown in exhibitions worldwide, including Big Bang Data in thirteen cities and three exhibitions at MoMA, New York, where the latter has acquired the artwork Cinema Redux for their permanent collection.

Gazelli Art House, founded in 2010 by Mila Askarova, brings a new perspective to Mayfair by championing artists from all corners of the world. The gallery focuses on artists at the height of their practice, showcasing their work through a diverse program of exhibitions and events. Gazelli Art House specializes in promoting art from Azerbaijan and its neighbors, introducing a greater understanding of the rich linguistic, religious and historical ties that link these areas to international audiences. In 2015, the gallery expanded to support artists working with digital art through its online platform: GAZELL.iO, which consists of an online residency program, NFT drops and collaborations, a dedicated project space that holds monthly exhibitions, and a permanently installed VR -library in the heart of Mayfair.

Overall, “Persian Dreams” is an exhibition that offers an exciting mix of traditional and modern art forms. Drawing from an ancient epic poem and combining it with cutting-edge technology and artistic expression, Brendan Dawes has created a thought-provoking body of work that explores universal themes and resonates with audiences of all backgrounds. Art Dubai 2023 is set to be a must-see event for art enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.