Poorya Gharehgozloo (Puriaqara)

b. 1976, Iran

By Sylvia Walker

November 16, 2022

Biography

Born in 1976 in Tehran, Iran, Poorya Gharehgozloo—also known as Puriaqara—is a mixed media artist working in kinetic installation, marked by vivid color, lights, and trembling sound.

Puriaqara graduated in Industrial Design before discovering his avocation as an artist. He grew up in an artistic family, learning his passion and interest in the arts at an early age, resulting in a true revelation when seeing the works of Alexander Calder or Joan Miro.

The two aforementioned artists would be of significant influence from an aesthetic point of view for Puriaqara. At the start of his career as an artist, the artist opted to use small, trivial materials assembled with thin wires or invisible yarn. By doing so, the tiny ready-made was suspended in a transparent frame, moving slowly with a sense of weightlessness according to their basic forms and mechanism.

As the artist aimed to enforce the visual commitment of the viewer, he started to include moving particles accompanied by colored neon lights. The artist’s main aim is to achieve a unique relation between diversity and simplicity in both form and material and to give rise to the illusion of animateness.

Every artwork has specific characteristics and qualities, portraying an archetypical cosmic story. By playing with sound and electronics and considering the relation between macro- and microcosms, Puriaqara expends the spatiotemporal dimensions in his work. By doing so, he creates a timeless experience for the viewer, guiding them to face concepts such as eternity and cosmic vastness.

Portrait of Poorya Gharehgozloo. Photo courtesy the artist.

Career facts

Puriaqara studied Industrial Design at the Azad University of Tehran before taking on the art world. He has exhibited at renowned venues such as the Saba Museum during the Fourth Sculpture Biennale of Tehran (2005) or various art galleries such as the Ronda Barcelona Gallery (2020), the Niavaran Gallery (2013), and Barg Gallery (2003). His work features various private collections and publications.

Discover more on the artist’s website.

Artworks

Poorya Gharehgozloo, Dancing Shiva (2). Courtesy the artist.

Poorya Gharehgozloo, Dancing Shiva (3). Courtesy the artist.

Poorya Gharehgozloo, Dancing Shiva. Courtesy the artist.

Poorya Gharehgozloo, Daphne. Courtesy the artist.

Poorya Gharehgozloo, Requime For Johhannes Brahms. Courtesy the artist.

Poorya Gharehgozloo, Passion. Courtesy the artist.

Poorya Gharehgozloo, Untitled. Courtesy the artist.

Poorya Gharehgozloo, Inspired by Joan Miro. Courtesy the artist.

Last Updated on August 1, 2023

Sylvia Walker

Sylvia Walker (b. 1986, US) is an art historian, essayist, art critic, and curator. After contributing to numerous publications, and curating exhibitions in the United States of America and beyond, she currently works as the assistant director of Contemporary Art Issue (CAI).

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