‘Elsewhen’’ by Ala Ebtekar

Image above: Paradise (Triptych) / 2011, Mixed media digital pigment prints, 2 side panels 100 x 66 cm, centre panel 100 x 150 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

Informed both by his cultural background and part of a diasporic community in the 21st Century, Ala Ebtekar’s new series of paintings and photomontage prints present an insight to what the world could possibly be following. Ala Ebtekar describes his work as “a visual glimpse of a crossroad where present day events meet history and mythology”.

Exhibited widely throughout the United States and internationally, Ebtekar’s impressive body of work over the past decade has drawn evocative parallels between events unfolding today and events and stories of the past. Challenged by an increasing desire to look towards the future and how to manifest this impuls into a new series of work, he began researching the nerratives and concepts of the literary genre of science fiction.

Ala Ebtekar / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

The dark midnight, fearful waves, and the tempestuous whirlpool (5 of 5) / 2011, Mixed media digital pigment prints, 100 x 66 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

Untitled (Title TBD - Ayandeh) / 2011, Mixed media digital pigment print, 150 x 150 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

Untitled (Title TBD-Ayandeh-nameh) / 2011, Mixed media digital pigment print, 100 x 150 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

The dark midnight, fearful waves, and the tempestuous whirlpool (1 of 5) / 2011, Mixed media digital pigment prints, 100 x 66 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

The dark midnight, fearful waves, and the tempestuous whirlpool (4 of 5) / 2011, Mixed media digital pigment prints, 100 x 66 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

Untitled (Title TBD-HafezieWinter) / 2011, Mixed media digital pigment print, 100 x 150 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

The dark midnight, fearful waves, and the tempestuous whirlpool (3 of 5) / 2011, Mixed media digital pigment prints, 100 x 150 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

Untitled (Title TBD Hafez Painting 1) / 2011, Acrylic and digital chine-collé on book pages mounted on canvas, 83.8 x 120 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

Untitled (Title TBD Hafez Painting 2) / 2011, Acrylic and digital chine-collé on book pages mounted on canvas, 83.8 x 120 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line

Untitled (Title TBD Hafez Painting 3) / 2011, Acrylic and digital chine-collé on book pages mounted on canvas, 83.8 x 120 cm / Courtesy of The Artist and The Third Line