Eric Parnes
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Eric Parnes
The increasing effect of commercialism and its global resonance has produced a forced dialogue between the East and the West. This cultural discourse stages a unique relationship between the ancient and the contemporary.
Born in the West with immediate family roots in Iran, Eric’s vision reflects one’s internal struggle to define identity, and can be traced to his early childhood experiences. As a conceptual artist, the catharsis of creation has compelled Eric to examine and portray the perceived differences and similarities of the world he was born in, as well as the echoes of the eras of his forefathers, allowing him to concentrate on crafting a series of works that revise and explore one’s understanding of the Orient.
The term Orientalism has been commonly described as the West’s long-time attempt to depict the Orient. Fantasy-driven concepts and themes, often idealized or romanticized, provided for a continuous melding of these cultures, producing imagery that continues to affect our perception today. Reaching far beyond the borders of the United States and the Middle East, my art assesses the modern, the mystic, and the visceral reality of a ‘Neo-Orientalist’.
Today, the delineations between the East and West are increasingly blurred, with the cardinal points both exporting and interpreting their respective societies. As an artist seeking to define Neo-Orientalism, Eric’s work continues to explore this intriguing correlation, and contribute to the intersection of culture and modern identity.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2012 I Dream of Jinn, Katara Art Centre, Doha
2008 Still Life Gallery, Maryland
Selected Group Exhibitions
2012 Stuck Up, Maxwell Colette Gallery, Chicago
2011 Still Life Gallery, New York City
2011 Second Street Gallery, Virginia
2011 New York Times Building, New York City
2010 Conflict/Interest, Second Street Gallery, Virginia
2010 I-RAN Home, COCA, Seattle
2010 Villa Dell Arte, Barcelona
2010 AFF, New York City
2009 Fridge Gallery, Washington DC
2008 Still Life Gallery, Maryland
2008 Maryland Art Place, Maryland
2008 Berliner Liste, Berlin
2003 The Apartment, New York City
2003 ArTv Gallery, Amsterdam
2003 Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
2003 Hype Gallery, London
2002 Athens Athica Gallery, Georgia (US)
2002 Lunitarium Gallery, New York City
2002 Art is Superior Gallery, New York City
2002 Break 21 Gallery, Ljubjlana
Selected Art Fairs & Events
2011 Verge Art Brooklyn, New York City
2010 Affordable Art Fair, New York City
2009 Bridge Art Fair, New York City
2008 Bridge Art Fair, Miami
Other Achievements
* One of Eric’s installations, World Trade Centre, was featured on the homepage of the New York Times’ website in September 2011
