Born and raised in the oppressively homophobic climate of 1980s Iran, Ali Tahayori assumed the identity of an outsider, further compounded by his migration to Australia in 2007. Combing fractured mirrors with text and imagery, his recent works draw on ancient Iranian philosophies about light and mirrors to create kaleidoscopic experiences; moments of both revelation and concealment hint at the conflicted nature of his identity.
Translating the traditional Iranian craft of Āine-Kāri (mirror-works) into a contemporary visual vocabulary, his practice skilfully combines a discourse about diaspora and displacement with an exploration of queerness – in both cases, poignantly testifying to his experience of being othered. He holds a Doctorate in Medicine, a Graduate Diploma in Photography, and a Master of Fine Arts in Photomedia from Sydney’s National Art School. His work has been extensively exhibited in Iran, Europe and Australia. Ali is represented by THIS IS NO FANTASY gallery in Melbourne.
CV
Ali Tahayori
Born. Shiraz, Iran (1980)
Lives and works in Gadigal land, Sydney, Australia since 2007
Instagram: @alitahayori
EDUCATION
2022. Master of Fine Art (Photomedia), National Art School, Sydney
2006. Doctor of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
2003. Graduate Diploma (Photography), Sepid-o-Siyah Art School, Shiraz, Iran
EXHIBITIONS
2023. Impossible Desire, Solo Show, KNULP gallery, Sydney, Australia
2023. EMANATE, Group show, New England Regional Art Museum, Australia
2023. PhotoLondon, Somerset House, UK
2023. The Sky is The Same, Solo Show, Gosford Regional Gallery, Australia
2023. Braving Time: Contemporary Art in Queer Australia, curated by Richard Perram for Sydney World Pride, NAS, Sydney, Australia
2022. Post Grad Show, National Art School, Sydney, Australia
2022. Vantage Point Sharjah 10, Al Hamriyah studios, Sharjah, UAE
2022. Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery, Sydney, Australia
2022. ‘Retrograde//Anterograde’, Airspace Projects, Sydney, Australia
2022. 'Plexus', group show, Comber Street Studios, Sydney, Australia
2022. ‘What Comes Afterwards’, solo show, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney, Australia
2021. William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne, Australia
2021. Blacktown City Art Prize, The Leo Kelly Blacktown Art Centre, Sydney, Australia
2020. ‘March Arts’, RPAH , Sydney, Australia
2004. ‘Plastic’, Vessal Gallery, Shiraz, Iran
2003. Graduate Exhibition, Sepid-o-Siyah Gallery, Shiraz, Iran
AWARDS
2023. Waverley Art Prize, Finalist
2022. Prix Yves Hernot Photography Award, Winner
2022. Blacktown Art Prize, Finalist
2022. Hornsby Art Prize, Finalist
2022. Gosford Art Prize, Highly commended honourable mention
2022. Vantage point Sharjah 10, Finalist
2021. William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize, Smith and Singer People's Choice Award, Winner
2021. Colour Factory MGA, highly commended Honourable mention
2021. Blacktown City Art Prize, Finalist
2020. March Arts Photography Prize, Sydney, Australia, Winner
COLLECTIONS
Private collections in the US, Europe, Australia and Iran
PRESENTATIONS & Artist talk
2023. In conversation with ArtWank March 2023, https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/art-w-k/id1503610662?i=1000606342636
2021. Ali Tahayori and Justine Varga in conversation with MGA director, Anouska Phizacklea on Alternative Photographic Processes
REVIEWS & FEATURES
2023. Featured in Photo London magazine, issue 100, special edition, echoes from Iran, page 52-54, https://online.flippingbook.com/view/767065501/52/
2023. There is no Queer in Iran reviewed in ArtReview Asia in April 2023 https://artreview.com/braving-time-contemporary-art-in-queer-australia-national-art-school-galleries-sydney-review/
2023. Featured in ABC Radio National, The Art Show in February 2023 https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/the-art-show/dylan-mooney-ali-tahayori-peter-tyndall/101953488
2022. Interviewed and featured in Sydney Morning Herald in November 2022 https://www.smh.com.au/by/angus-thomson-p53654
2022. Featured in Art/Edit Magazine in the "Ones To Watch" Section in November 2022; https://artedit.com.au/ones-to-watch-ali-tahayori/
2021. Sisterhood reviewed in December 2021 by Capture Magazine; https://www.capturemag.com.au/news/bowness-prize-people-s-choice-winner-revealed?fbclid=IwAR0nFHxCA4DVKLYV5Q9MAst0QDxxh1vXpD5WE-i8F3J_ufGplj3ibhhUer0
2021. Sisterhood reviewed on 7th December 2021 by Australian Photography Magazine; https://www.australianphotography.com/news/striking-portrait-wins-2021-bowness-photography-prize-people-s-choice-award?fbclid=IwAR2U0J4XEqaj0uUA7OtYw1Z0_Q7J1PUtW-9_WfP8IX0UEjgtpPJJmJzDhO4
2021. Sisterhood reviewed in December 2021 by the Australian Arts Review; https://artsreview.com.au/ali-tahayori-wins-smith-singer-peoples-choice-award-for-sisterhood/?fbclid=IwAR2GLnRbqcYXat30DE_gc_thfR4lfSNzxCzw0qn3GDb98fUdLj7LpuxhFAA
2021. Featured in The Guardian Australia, The 2021 Bowness Photography Prize, Finalists in pictures; https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2021/nov/12/the-2021-bowness-photography-prize-selected-finalists-in-pictures?fbclid=IwAR2_1ZYKegaDJ6lEoITsMGCNYUOk_vVgkqbnB6KscKXfmvBsCuXPgK9XqZQ
2021. Featured in The Age, All the emotions are documented in the best photos of 2021; https://www.theage.com.au/culture/art-and-design/all-the-emotions-are-documented-in-the-best-photos-of-2020-20211109-p597d0.html?fbclid=IwAR2wFCY9ow7eFOcaOYdjDxEP-08w4s3jayEvMvIl22FRDkMT1SkBcBpQ6Xo
