In a short period of time, Farshad Farzankia has gained significant recognition in Denmark and internationally, with numerous solo and group exhibitions to his name. In 2021–22, Farzankia’s artistic practice unfolded in a museum exhibition for the first time when ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art presented Farshad Farzankia – Hvis jeg står (If I Stand). The exhibition featured more than 30 paintings, drawings and silkscreens, several of which were created especially for the show. Farshad Farzankia was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1980, but fled with his family to Denmark at the age of nine in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution. He trained as a graphic designer and worked in the field for a number of years before deciding in 2016 to dedicate himself fully to painting. Since then, his career has developed rapidly.

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From Poetry to Pop Art
A poetic force and vibrant life energy radiate from Farzankia’s paintings. His works are filled with motifs, figures and signs that set both large and small narratives in motion – about identity and self-narration, freedom and movement, as well as fake news and philosophy. Farzankia draws inspiration from the swirling streams of images that define our digital age, from poetry and cinema, from popular culture, and from a wide range of artists – from Asger Jorn to Andy Warhol. Yet Farzankia’s art remains unmistakably his own. He has been painting since early childhood.
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^{Farshad Farzankias. Photo: Rasmus Weng Karlsen}

Entering the Painting
Farzankia’s works raise pressing questions about what it means to live in a globalised world where personal experiences and constant flows of images make life dynamic and ever-changing.
Within his paintings, different cultures, times and places appear side by side with personal memories and symbolic references. Each painting unfolds like an open stage or a fragment of a film scene, inviting viewers into captivating worlds filled with images, language and culture.

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^{Farshad Farzankias. Photo: Rasmus Weng Karlsen}

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