ARA DOLATIAN, BIO + CV
Dolatian’s interdisciplinary practice explores the relationship between cultural landscapes and the natural ecosystem. A hybrid ecosystem simultaneously resembles a semi-functional apparatus, the model of a utopian city, and a biological experiment. It also conflates a number of ideas around the themes of the studio and the laboratory and in turn social and environmental politics.
The work function as a visual interpretation of socio-cultural and technological developments, the work aims to anticipate future topics while using the dichotomy of humanities and science. Art and science have been engaged in an exchange of ideas and narrative structures. The body of work is an abstract visualization linking the human and the nonhuman and addressing the incipient intersection of nature, biology and technology.
EDUCATION
2013-2014 Master of Social Science, Environment & Planning, RMIT University.
2010-2012 Bachelor of Fine Arts – Sculpture, RMIT University.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 Artefacts. June, Blindside.
2020 Site With No Real Place Jan at C3 Contemporary Art Space.
2019 Heterotopia, Stockroom, Kyneton, Vic.
2018 Narratives- Realties, fictionalising the present and contaminating the fantastical wilderness. Melbourne
2017 Controlled Instabilities, Contemporary Art Space, Montevideo, Uruguay.
2017 Progress and Passivity, Five Walls, Melbourne.
2016 Hybrid Terrains, Black Centre AADK, Spain
2016 Reflection as Ideological Hallucination, Incinerator Gallery, Melbourne.
2016 Terrains, Seventh Gallery, Melbourne.
2015 Navigating With Uncertainty, C3 Contemporary art space.
2012 Frame of Reference, RMIT Graduation Exhibition.
2011 Perceptual, First Site Gallery, Melbourne
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 Notfair Art Fair, Melbourne
2021 Stockroom, group exhibition
2020 Firstdraft, Online Auction, Sydney.
2019 Tiny World Reunion, group exhibition, curated by the Wandering Room. Melbourne
2019 28 Beasts, group exhibition, curated by Jake Treacy and Ben Taranto. Melbourne
2018 Surfaces, group exhibition, Millepiani Gallery, Rome, Italy.
2018 Utopian Tongues, Seventh Gallery, curated by Jake Treacy, Melbourne.
2018 In Motion 2018: Rhythm, presented by AIRspace Projects, Sydney.
2018 Biotic & Apparatus, Stanthorpe Regional Gallery, QLD.
2017 Art in Soil, POP Gallery, Brisbane
2017 Waves, curated by Charlotte Cornish, The Honeymoon Suite, Melbourne.
2017 Notfair, Melbourne.
2017 Anthropoetics of space, Stockroom, Kyneton.
2017 thing in itself // das Ding an sich , curated by Elyse Goldfinch, Wellington St Project, Sydney.
2017 Stockroom Travels Cremorne Opening, curated group show.
2016 Imagined Worlds, curated by Kent Wilson, Town Hall Gallery Melbourne
2015 Moreland Summer Show, Science Friction, Counihan Gallery Brunswick, curated group Exhibition
2015 Convergence, Kings Artist-Run, Melbourne.
2015 The Lost One's Gallery, curated group Exhibition, Ballarat
2015 Construct, Trocadero Art Spac, Melbourne.
2015 Freak of Nature, curated group exhibition at Mailbox.
2014 Assemblages, curated group exhibition at Manningham Art Gallery, Melbourne.
2013 Territories, First Site Gallery, Melbourne.
2012 Crème, curated group exhibition at RMIT School of Art Gallery, Melbourne.
2011 Utopian Slumps, group show, Melbourne.
2011 Living Space. group show. Mr Kitly, Melbourne.
2011 Living Space 2. Platform Art Spaces, Melbourne
PRIZES, GRANTS, COMMISSIONS, RESIDENCIES
2021 ZK / U Centre for Art and Urbanistics - Residency, Berlin.
2020 Covid-19 Quick Response Arts Grant - City of Melbourne.
2020 - 2024 City Of Melbourne, external assessor for Council’s funding programs.
2019 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize.
2019 Career Development Grant, Australia Council for the Arts.
2019 Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Awards.
2017 Art in Soil, Queensland Branch of Soil Science Australia, residency & commission. Brisbane.
2017 Exhibition development grant, Contemporary Art Space, Uruguay, Montevideo.
2017 Highly Commended, Notfair 2017.
2016 Centro Negra, AADK Spain, Residency.
2016 Spring Fashion week, installation, commission.
2015 Navigating with Uncertainty, Darebin Art Prize Finalist.
2015 ArtStart Career Development Funding Recipient. Australia Council for the Arts
2015 Nomad, Commission for Beaumaris Library.
2014 Assemblages, Toyota Art Prize Finalist.
2013 Territories, The Substation Contemporary Art Prize Finalist.
2013 Nomad, Commission for Midsumma Festival and Moreland City Council
2012 RMIT University School of Art Collection.