Alumnus Shezad Dawood Presents Solo Exhibition

Shezad Dawood, who graduated from BA Fine Art at Central Saint Martins in 1997, is screening his new film as part of a solo show in London.

Shezad Dawood: Towards the Possible Film exhibition is made up of light sculptures, an installation of large-scale paintings on textile, and two films. Informed by extensive travels and research, Dawood shows a deep desire to encourage communication between different cultures and people. His films feature extraordinary episodes and narratives, in which seemingly ‘otherworldly’ figures are often the protagonists.

Morocco, Masonry and Mysticism

‘Towards the Possible Film’ (2014), which premiers at the exhibition, was shot at Legzira beach in Sidi Ifni, Morocco. It is evidently inspired by the many wars fought in the 1950s and ’60s between Spain, Morocco and independent Saharan tribes. In contrast, the film ‘A Mystery Play’ (2010) draws on Masonic rituals and Winnipeg’s history of burlesque and performance.

Dawood’s light sculpture The Black Sun’ (2010) is an ultra-daylight, white-neon circle. It is concerned with the mystical transformation of the self, as represented by the eclipse and the notion of the dark night of the soul. Also featured are his large-scale paintings, created on textiles stitched during the 1970s by women in Pakistan.

The exhibition runs until 25 May 2014 at Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art. Admission is free. On Thursday 24 April, Dawood will be in conversation with writer and critic Oliver Basciano.

More information:
BA Fine Art
Shezad Dawood: Towards the Possible Film exhibition
Talk by Shezad Dawood on 24 April 2014

Towards the Possible Film (production still, 2014) commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella, Delfina Foundation and in association with Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art. Mên-an-Tol (2013) courtesy Paradise Row, London. A Mystery Play (production still, 2010) commissioned by Plug In ICA, Winnipeg, courtesy of LUX, London. Event images (2014) copyright Parasol unit, photos Nicola Pomery.