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Bio

Nima Dehghani, born in Tehran, Iran in 1986, is an award-winning artist, writer, and director. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Architecture from IUST in 2012, and his MFA from Carnegie Mellon University in 2016, focusing on digital media and performance art. 

Nima's artistic endeavors are transdisciplinary, utilizing various technologies to explore human experience and the themes of estrangement and displacement. With a unique and eclectic approach shaped by his cultural heritage and personal experiences, he constructs hypermediated and highly systematized social architectures through theater, film, and digital forums. His research centers around Contemporary Middle Eastern Studies, examining communication hacking, creative social justice divination, and implicit politics. 


 

Dehghani has a background in using technology to create interactive performances, including "MonoTalkhak," "The Manual," and "In Praise of Theater, Tehran and Telecommunication" in Iran. Since 2011, he has been working on online performance projects called "Netformance," including "Webcam", "The Body of Woman as a Battlefield", and "Telepuppet.tv." In 2017,

 

Currently based in San Francisco, Nima predominantly teaches and works in theater and digital media, combining video, VR-AR, net art, and performing arts in his practices. Nima has received numerous accolades for his work as a playwright and director, including "The Best Young Director of the Year" from the Iran Theater Forum in 2012. His past works have been showcased in Iran before 2012, and subsequently at festivals in Spain, UK, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Turkey, and Germany. 

 

Dehghani started a new research project called "The Aesthetics of Ugliness" or "Behavior of Iranians in Social Networks from a Performative Dimension," which lead to an ongoing documentary lecture-performance based on the life of Iranian YouTuber Nasim Najafi Aghdam. As the director of the Control-Zed Theater Group, Dehghani is also the director and co-founder of the "Re-Connect" online performance festival, which aims to bring together digital art experts and explore new ideas for utilizing digital media and experimental performance art.

 

To learn more about Nima's work, visit his website at Nimadehghani.com.

About me

As a transdisciplinary artist, I use various technologies to explore human experiences of estrangement and displacement. My work incorporates a range of cultural customs and personal experiences. Through theater, video art, and participatory digital platforms, I create hypermediated and highly systematized social architectures that encourage people to search for evidence of the sensual and connect with one another on an inter and intrapersonal level.

By amplifying the distance between people through mediated technologies, I inspire my audience to seek connections and work together to shape their world. This makes the audience active participants in the work and agents of change in their communities.

My process is experiential and highly collaborative, and I often depart from traditional methodologies to create new networks of mechanization and invite diverse audiences to engage with even complex topics through curiosity and play.

As an architect of fragmented realities, I use my background in architecture, VR, and theater to create (usually) digital spaces and design (mainly) virtual platforms for the audience or other artists to make dialogue with each other and "the others". 

 

 

Nima Dehghani

Nima.dm@gmail.com

www.NimaDehghani.com


 

Education

 

2016     M.F.A. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA ,USA

2012     B.A. Architecture, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

 

Founder/ Ctrl+Z Theater Group

Co-Founder/ Peykart.com

 

Teaching Experience

 

2019     Digital Storytelling workshop for refugee students, Back to Track NGO, Berlin, Germany

2019     Digital Storytelling workshop for immigrant students, Oakland International Highschool, CA, USA

2019     Workshop: Digital theater, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2018     Workshop: Digital Storytelling workshop for Refugees, Emil Fischer School, Berlin, Germany

2017     Workshop: VR Digital Storytelling workshop, Inverse Visual Art School, Tehran, Iran

2016     GA, Intro to contextual practice (with Jon Rubin), CMU, School of Arts, Pittsburgh, USA

2016     GA, The Amateur- digital culture (with Jon Rubin), CMU, School of Arts, Pittsburgh, USA

2015     GA, Internet resistance (with Paolo Pedercini), CMU, School of Arts, Pittsburgh, USA

2015     GA, Temporary arts for public spaces (with Jon Rubin), CMU, School of Arts, Pittsburgh, USA

2014     Workshop: Creative Writing, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA

2014     Workshop: Performance and Multimedia, Roodaki Art Center Iran

2013     GA, Urban intervention (with Ali Momeni), CMU, School of Arts, Pittsburgh, USA

2013     Online Workshop: Creative Writing Workshop, Artiman Center, Tehran, Iran

2012     Casual Writing, Creative writing workshop, Peykart art department, Tehran Iran

 

 

 

Awards- Grants

 

2020    Best Production Award, Decompensation VR film, FINNOF Festival, Argentina

2019    Official Selection, Decompensation VR film, CPH Web series Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark

2018    Official Selection, Decompensation VR film, Harlem VR Film Festival, New York, USA

2018    Official Selection, Decompensation VR film, Kinetoscope VR Film Festival, Seattle, USA

2017    Official Selection, Decompensation VR film, FIVARS VR Film Festival, Toronto, Canada

2015    Frank-Ratchye Fund for Arts

2014    Connecting Cities Fund, Co-investigator: Ali Momeni, Telepuppet.tv, Brussels, Liverpool, Madrid

2014    Konrad and Gisela Weis Fellowship (Carnegie Mellon School of Art)

2013    Magalios Foundation Scholarship (Carnegie Mellon School of Art)

2013    Awesome Pittsburgh Grant, Pittsburgh, USA

2012    Best young Director of the year, Iran Theater forum, TheatreTehran, Iran

2012    Honored in 2012 Evolo skyscraper architecture competition, USA

2011    Best playwriting, best directing - King’s flight, Fajr international students theater festival, Iran

2011    Best original performance, World Festival of Puppet Art, The day after tomorrow, Prague, Czech

2010    First prize of playwriting, The day after tomorrow, UNIMA Puppet theatre festival, Tehran, Iran

2008    First prize of playwriting, The suspicious case, UNIMA Puppet theatre festival, Tehran, Iran

2007    First prize of playwriting, Rooster-Less, Theater for Children Biennale, Tehran, Iran




 

Talks, Workshops, Panels, Conference Presentations

2021     Panelist: Online Festivals, IV GEMinis International Journey (JIG 2021),Brazil, Online

2021     Panelist: Theatre during the Pandemic, Freie Universität Berlin/Germany, Online

2020     Panelist: Liveness in digital theatre, Reconnect Festival, San Francisco, Online

2020     Paper Presentation: Aesthetics of ugliness- the internet, IVSA Dublin Conference, Dublin, Ireland

2019     Artist Talk: Digital media and performing arts, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2018     Artist Talk: My practice as an Interdisciplinary Artist, Inverse Visual Art School, Tehran, Iran

2016     CFC Media lab VR storytelling panel, Panelist, CFC Canadian Film Center, Toronto, Canada

2016     Panelist, FIVARS VR Film Festival, Toronto, Canada

2015     Panelist, Digital Storytelling Conference 2015, Northampton, USA

2015     Member of the selection committee, Open Engagement 2015,  Pittsburgh, USA

2015     Panel Discussion: Producers as international changemakers, IBT15 Festival, Bristol, UK

2014     Workshop: Creative Writing, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA




 

Selected shows-Exhibitions

2021

 

The Portrait of a woman, a lion, a monster, Video designer,  Directed by Ali Kamran, Tehaterlab,NYC, USA

 

 

2020

 

Decompensation, VR film, FINOFF Festival, Rosario, Argentina

Rhyme, VR video installation, New York, USA

2019

 

"As you like it", Video projection designer, Kassel, Germany
"I am not your food ", Charles University, Prague, Czech

"I am not your food ", Beckech, Berlin, Germany

"I am not your food ", Spectrum, Emruz festival, New York, USA

"El-Muerte", Video projection designer, San Francisco, Toronto, Montreal, NYC, US and Canada

"Wounded bear".  Video projection designer, Tehran, Iran

2018

"In Praise of Theater ", Mostaghel Theater, Tehran, Iran

"Hecuba-Helen", Video projection designer, Stanford University, Palo Alto, USA

"Routine or The Static Flood of Whimsical Thoughts in a Restless Mind, Mild",  Berkeley, USA

 

2016

 

Decompensation” , Harlem International Film Festival, NYC, USA

Decompensation” , FIVARS VR Film Festival, Toronto, Canada

Decompensation” , 3Rivers Art Festival, Pittsburgh, USA

A VR Tour of Tehran”, Conflict Kitchen Film and Video Festival, Pittsburgh, USA

Decompensation” , The Miller gallery, Pittsburgh, USA


 

2015

 

Big Fish Eyes” , The Frame gallery, Pittsburgh, USA

Where you stand” , 8 hour projects, Meadville College art gallery, Meadville, USA

Above”, Co-curator with Andy Field, Online Project, Tehran-London, Iran-UK

Metamorphosis , 808 Gallery, Pittsburgh, USA

 

2014

 

"telepuppet.tv" , Augmented Puppetry, Urban Projection, Brussels, Liverpool, Madrid

MonoTalkhak” (The Clown and I), Kreuzberger HofFestSpiele Theater Festival, Berlin, Germany

MonoTalkhak” (The Clown and I), English Theater Berlin, “The 2014 Expat Expo, Berlin, Germany

Webcam”, Online Performance, www,Netformance.org, Pittsburgh, USA-Tehran, Iran

“Gross Domestic Product”(group show), (“The Body of Woman as a Battlefield”), The Mine Factory, Pittsburgh, USA

 

2013

 

Kiss-for-Peace” (online performance), www.Netformance.org, Pittsburgh, USA

Jeanparty” (online performance), www.Netformance.org, Pittsburgh, USA

Whenever”, Ghasr Prison-Gallery, Tehran, Iran

Anyway”, Café Genre, Tehran, Iran

"Where is the capital of RioDeJaniro?", Milad Tower & Arasbaran, Tehran, Iran

Control Me”(Live Archive), Crucible Building , Pittsburgh, USA

Talk to me 2” (collaboration with Felipe Castelblanco), Ellis Gallery, Tehran-Pittsburgh, Iran-USA

 

 

2012

 

The Manual”, City theater, Tehran, Iran

Denmark”, 30 performance 30 Artists Show, East Gallery, Tehran, Iran

“Salon-e- Tehrani” , (Playwright), Director: Narges Hashempoor, Dresden , Germany

 

2011

 

Mono-Talkhak” (The clown and I), Entezami Hall, Tehran, Iran

“King’s Flight” , Fajr international festival(students), Molavi Hall, Tehran, Iran

“Horse, apple and spring”, (playwright), Director: Anahita Ghanizade, Talar Honar, Tehran, Iran

The day after tomorrow” (Playwright), City Theater, Tehran, Iran- Prague, Czech Republic

U-Turn”, (Playwright) , Director: Hamid Poorazari, IUT Parking lot , Tehran, Iran

“Orpheus” (Playwright), Director:Raha Shirazi, Entezami Hall, Tehran, Iran

 

 

Published Books

 

2015    “Normal” - (Playscript) - Boutimar publication

2014   “Mono-talkhak- (Playscript) - Hoze Noghre publication

2009    “The day after tomorrow”- (Playscript) - Namiesh Publication

2008    “Golestan-e- javanmarde ghassab” (Satiric poetry for young adults)- Shahr Publication

2007   “Tehran 1473” (Citizenship culture for children) - Shahr Publica

 

Work Experience

 

2020- 2020  Co-Founder and Director, Reconnect Oline Performance Festival

2012- 2020  Founder and Director, Ctrl+Z Performance group

2014- 2012  Art Director, Rah Foundation

2012-2020  Art Director, Co-Founder, Peykart (Art and media newsletter)

2016- 2017 Creative Director, iTutoregroup, SF Bay Area, USA

2012- 2017 Member of International Federation of Journalists

2015-2016  Coordinator of special projects and Researcher, Studio for Creative Inquiry, Pittsburgh, USA

2013-2016  Graphic designer, Photographer, and Videographer, Carnegie Mellon University

2013-2015  Member of the board of Iranian Students Association, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

2012-2013  Member of the editorial board, Khatkhati magazine

2012-2015  Member of the board, Iranian Playwrights’ Association, Iran Theater Forum

2010-2011  Designer and Architect, Bonsar Architecture Studio

2008-2010  Designer, Architect and Art Director, Carpira Architecture Studio

2004-2006  Copywriter and Graphic Designer, Nama Graphic Studio

Press:

Interviews, news, critics, articles about Nima Dehghani and his works:

 

Huffingtonpost

Thetartan

fivars.net

Trustarts

AwesomePittsburgh

iMal

Connecting Cities

MediaLab Prado

Studioforcreativeinquiry

Etberlin

Archdaily

Evolo

Archiscene

In Between Time Festival

FACT

Englishtogerman

Mote078

Wherevent

Britishcouncil

Sampsoniaway

Theatreanddance

Vrfocus

Uscpacsa
Timeout

posthaven

Honaronline

Magiran

mehrnews

Cinemapress

salamcinama

Tiwall

Timesunion

HonarOnline

Thisisliveart

BookCity

 

نیما دهقانی هنرمند بینارشته‌ای، نویسنده و کارگردان تئاتر است. او دارای مدرک کارشناسی معماری از دانشگاه علم‌و‌صنعت ایران و کارشناسی ارشد هنرهای زیبا از دانشگاه Carnegie Mellon امریکا با تمرکز روی دیجیتال مدیا و پرفرمنس آرت است.
دهقانی در دوران تحصیل خود تمرکزش روی طراحی فضاهای دیجیتال به عنوان بستر آلترناتیو برای اجراهای تجربی بوده است. «اجراهای اینترنت‌محور و محیطی»، «همکاری‌های بینا‌رسانه‌ای» و پژوهش حول «مختصات فضای مجازی برای میزبانی آثار نمایشی» موضوع تحقیقات وی، و «جابجایی و واقعیت مجازی» (‌Displacement and Virtual Relaity) موضوع تز کارشناسی ارشد او می‌باشد.
اغلب تجربه‌های وی در حوزه ترکیب تکنولوژی و پرفرمنس تعاملی بوده و از اجراهای مطرح او در ایران می‌توان به «منوتلخک»، «شیوه‌ی صحیح استفاده از دستگاه»، و «در ستایش تئاتر و تهران و تله‌کامیونیکیشن» اشاره کرد. در تمام این آثار رد پای اجرای مشارکتی و استفاده از ابزار/رسانه‌های دیجیتال دیده می‌شود.
نیما دهقانی از سال ۹۰ روی پروژه های اجراهای انلاین با عنوان «نتفرمنس» کار می‌کرده و اجراهای «وبکم»، و «پیکر زن همچون میدان نبرد» , «telepuppet.tv» را روی پلتفرم‌های آنلاین، طراحی و اجرا کرده است. در ادامه این تجربه‌ها، پروژه اخیر خود را با عنوان «زیبایی شناسیِ زشتی و رفتارشناسی ایرانیان در شبکه‌های مجازی از بُعدِ پرفرماتیو»، با لکچر پرفرمنس مستندی بر اساس زندگی نسیم نجفی اقدم - یکی از یوتیوبرهای معروف ایرانی‌- در سال ۲۰۱۷ آغاز کرده است. 
نیما دهقانی به عنوان مدیر گروه تئاتر کنترل-ضد، یکی از طراحان فستیوال «ارتباط مجدد» با هدف برگزاری گفتگوهای کارشناسی و گرداوری ایده‌های نو برای کشف پتانسیل‌ها و استفاده بهینه از رسانه‌های دیجیتال می‌باشد.

سابقه کاری

• گروه تئاتر Ctrl+Z | تهران | موسس و کارگردان هنری | 2009 تا 2018

•​ پیک اتفاقات فرهنگی هنری Peykart | موسس و مدیر هنری | 2011 تا 2018

•​ iTutorGroup Inc | سن فرانسیسکو | مدیر هنری | 2016 تا 2017

• دانشگاه ‌Carnegie Mellon University | پیتزبورگ | استادیار و محقق هنر دیجیتال/ بینارشته‌ای | 2013 تا 2016

•​ Studio for Creative Inquiry | کیوریتور پروژه‌های ویژه و طراح گرافیک | 2014 تا 2016

•​ استودیو معماری بن‌سار | تهران | آرشیتکت | 2010 تا 2012

•​ استودیو نما گرافیک | تهران | موسس و طراح گرافیک | 2007 تا 2009

 

سابقه سخنرانی و تدریس

•​ برگزاری ورکشاپ دیجیتال استوری تلینگ | مدرسه Emil Fitscher برلین | 2018

•​ سخنرانی در نشست CFC Media lab VR storytelling در Canadian Film Center | تورنتو، کانادا | 2016

•​ سخنرانی در پنل Fivars VR film festival | تورنتو، کانادا | 2016

•​ سخنرانی در پنل In Between Time Performance Festival | بریستول، انگلستان | 2016

•​ سخنرانی در پنل Digital storytelling conference 2016 | نورثهمپتون، آمریکا | 2016

•​ برگزاری ورکشاپ Performance and Multimedia در مرکز فرهنگی هنری رودکی | تهران | 2014

•​ برگزاری ورکشاپ نویسندگی خلاق | دانشگاه USC لس آنجلس | 2014

•​ برگزاری ورکشاپ آنلاین نویسندگی خلاق در Artiman Center | تهران | 2013

•​ برگزاری ورکشاپ نویسندگی خلاق در دپارتمان هنری Peykart | تهران | 2012

 

نمایشگاه‌ها و اجرها

 

• طراحی ویدیو پروجکشن "‌Helen-Hecuba" | دانشگاه  استنفورد، آمریکا | 2018

• صحنه‌خوانی "This Damn Boat" | Golden Thread Theater Company | سانفرانسیسکو آمریکا | 2018

• نمایش "در ستایش تئاتر و تهران و تله کامیونیکیشن" | تئاتر مستقل | تهران، ایران | 2017

• نمایش "سیل ساکن تفکرات نا آرام" | Central Stage | برکلی، آمریکا | 2017

• ویدیو پرفورمنس "Decompensation" |FIVARS VR Film Festival | تورنتو، کانادا | 2016

• نمایشگاه "Decompensation" | 3Rivers Art Festival | پیتزبورگ، آمریکا | 2016

• ویدیو اینستالیشن "A VR Tour of Tehran" | Conflict Kitchen Film and Video Festival | پیتزبورگ، آمریکا | 2016

• نمایشگاه ویدیو واقعیت مجازی "Big Fish Eyes" | The Frame gallery | پیتزبورگ، آمریکا | 2015

• نمایشگاه "Where you stand" | مدیویل، آمریکا | 2015

• نمایشگاه "Above" | Online Project | تهران،ایران | لندن،انگلستان | 2016

• نمایشگاه "Metamorphosis" | 808 Gallery | پیتزبورگ، آمریکا | 2015

• اجرای ویدئو پروجکشن شهری "telepuppet.tv" | مادرید، بروکسل، لیورپول | 2014

• نمایش "MonoTalkhak" |  Kreuzberger HofFestSpiele Theater Festival| برلین، آلمان | 2014

• پرفورمنس "Webcam" | Online Performance|  www.Netformance.org | 2014

• پرفورمنس "Whenever" | زندان قصر | تهران، ایران | 2013

• پرفورمنس "Anyway" | کافه ژانر | تهران، ایران | 2013

• نمایشگاه "Control Me" | Crucible Building  | پیتزبورگ، آمریکا | 2013

• نمایشگاه "Talk to me 2" با همکاریFelipe Castelblanco | Ellis Gallery | پیتزبورگ، آمریکا | 2013

• نمایشگاه "The Manual" | تئاتر شهر | تهران، ایران | 2012

• پرفورمنس "Denmark" | گالری ایست | تهران، ایران | 2012

• نمایش "Mono-Talkhak" | تالار انتظامی | تهران، ایران | 2012

• Frank-Ratchye Fund for Arts | 2015

•​ ​Connecting Cities Grant, Co-investigator with Ali Momeni | 2014

•​ بورس تحصیلی Magalios Foundation | 2013

•​ جایزه Awesome Pittsburgh ا 2013

•​ بهترین کارگردان جوان سال از سوی خانه تئاتر ایران | تهران | 2012

•​ برنده جایزه بهترین کارگردانی در بخش دانشجویی چهاردهمین جشنواره تئاتر فجر | ایران | 2011

•​ برنده جایزه بهترین پرفورمنس غیر اقتباسی از Festival of Puppet Art | شهر پراگ جمهوری چک | 2011

•​ برنده مقام نخست نمایشنامه‌نویسی در دوسالانه تئاتر کودکان | ایران | 2007

•​ نویسنده کتاب "سیل ساکن تفکرات نا‌آرام" (نمایشنامه) | انتشاراتBoutimar  | 2015

•​ نویسنده کتاب "منو تلخک" (نمایشنامه) | انتشارات حوض نقره | 2014

•​ نویسنده کتاب "پس‌آن‌فردا" (نمایشنامه) | انتشارات نمایش | 2009

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