Born in Iran in the 90s, Ali Hadian's work has been described as whimsical, disturbing, profound, thought-provoking, and meta. His first point of entry to creating art was under the guidance of his father and aunt, who introduced him to video editing, animation, and digital tools.
In Movements, the figures are taken out of the two-dimensional state by animation - and belong to a place and space that is no longer the surface of paper or canvas. This is one of the fascinating concepts about Hadian’s technique that draws viewers in. Each piece is immersed in a surrealistic world. As a digital-first artist demonstrating natural abilities, Hadian taps into the transcending formats of 3D and VR to manipulate physical and digital images into playful and intriguing loop animations.
“Spacetime of the figures don’t always reflect our real-time perception and this may cause them to appear being stuck in a loop; I can explain it in this way, these are human states appear to be lost in time and space; sort of like the times that we get lost in our thoughts and create an imaginary world in our head, detaching from reality for a period of time. These figures are just representations or clones of modern sapiens,” says Hadian.
The Endless One and Gaze 01 are some of the many pieces that play on this very concept. They are woven together, creating a timeless perception of the living while focusing on human emotions. Spacetime is a prevalent theme in Movements. These inanimate objects perfectly formed for the metaverse or in 4K Resolution are neither flat and do not have an endpoint. Instead, his work appears curvy, continuous, smooth, and overall, textured with deep pathways to contemplate.
“My first experience in NFT will be with BlackDove - in which we worked on a digital drop on their digital canvases. They’re launching a blockchain platform for high-art in which you can install the app and collect the limited-edition artworks in 4K resolution and display it at home. In my opinion, it is a new chapter and outlook for digital art and it’s been a very interesting experience,” says Hadian.
Moreover, Hadian’s strategic and detailed approach to a canvas depends on the composition, color palette, and other visual elements that are equal parts of an experience and a vibe, which they say, “takes place subconsciously.” “Sketching and overthinking usually ruins that novelty for me; I visualize everything in my mind and all the changes happen in the process.” Movements is an experience vesselled through a digital canvas, situated on a lobby wall or in an office space on a bright sunny day or reflected among a stormy night. The psychology behind why certain people enjoy certain types of works and why some find them tedious and therapeutic. One glimpse and your eyes are locked in on The Lady & The Bee.
BLACK DOVE: Who is your subject for Movements?
ALI HADIAN: Any idea can be a spark for new work. I usually don’t bother with choosing a subject, and let the process dictate the story and theme. Like remembering memories, everyday things that happen all around us, and even hearing something on the news, which there are plenty these days. News that can engage the mind to build a new work or a concept.
BLACK DOVE: What do you perceive as the difference between a human and a cyborg?
ALI HADIAN: In my opinion, characters portrayed in my works are like contemporary human beings; with a desire to move and an inability to perform - these are the states that we have been subconsciously and even unknowingly involved ourselves in.
Spacetime of these figures don’t always reflect our real-time and this may cause them to appear being stuck in a loop; it’s sort of like the times that we get lost in our thoughts and create an imaginary world in our head, detaching from reality for a period of time. These figures are just representations or clones of modern sapiens.
BLACK DOVE: Tell us about your journey into the NFT space. What made you get involved and what can we expect with Movements?
ALI HADIAN: My first experience in NFT will be with BlackDove - in which we’re minting a few of my works into blockchain as limited-edition NFTs. The platform is accessible through any smart TVs or Blackdove’s digital canvases, showcasing the artworks in 4K resolution. In my opinion, it is a new chapter and outlook for digital art and it’s been a very interesting experience.
I feel like since last year with the increased awareness - and the craze - around NFTs, digital art has become more mainstream; it’s odd that even a few years ago - because of the disruptive and new nature of digital content - it wasn’t accepted by many as real ‘art’. But that’s the case with every new wave of progress.
BLACK DOVE: What traditional techniques in your work contribute to the digital collections? What is the biggest challenge you face as a digital artist?
ALI HADIAN: In my opinion, I see digitization as the natural evolution, and it provides a unique experience for the artist and collectors.
This article is in partnership with Black Dove. To own Ali Haidan’s NFTs, visit the Black Dove for his exclusively minted pieces to hold in your MetaMask wallet. Black Dove is a NFT marketplace to purchase, experience and display high resolution digital art. Download the app to access Ali Haidan’s work on your mobile device and smart TV now.