Biography and Vision
photography by Masha Bakker
Siba Sahabi (1979) is a German-Iranian interdisciplinary artist. In addition to objects and sculptures she creates theatre sets and installations for buildings and public spaces. Her award-winning work has been exhibited internationally in museums and galleries such as Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires and Saatchi Gallery in London.
Context and Inspiration
Through her work she explores and reconstructs the meaning of cultural identity. Sahabi is interested in how relationships around us determine who we are as individuals in our community, and how this ‘mould’ of our cultural identity changes when we are exposed to multiple cultures at the same time.
Sahabi translates her research on cultural identity into contemporary design through an interpretation of forms and concepts. She creates a wide range of centrepieces—from limited design editions to large-scale art installations.
Sahabi works with media such as film and photography to illuminate the context of her designed objects and to visualise her research through narrative. These processes of creating context and narration around her work extend to her international and cross-disciplinary collaborations, which form an important source of inspiration for her.
Through her work she explores and reconstructs the meaning of cultural identity. Sahabi is interested in how relationships around us determine who we are as individuals in our community, and how this ‘mould’ of our cultural identity changes when we are exposed to multiple cultures at the same time.
Sahabi translates her research on cultural identity into contemporary design through an interpretation of forms and concepts. She creates a wide range of centrepieces—from limited design editions to large-scale art installations.
Sahabi works with media such as film and photography to illuminate the context of her designed objects and to visualise her research through narrative. These processes of creating context and narration around her work extend to her international and cross-disciplinary collaborations, which form an important source of inspiration for her.
Siba Sahabi Foundation
She is also the founder of the Siba Sahabi Foundation, an organisation that focuses on carrying out interdisciplinary art projects in which diversity is paramount and which connect diverse fields that include design, science, film, photography, dance, and music.
The foundation is committed to rejuvenating the traditional (performing) arts in the Netherlands with distinctive productions, such as with Skiagraphia. Sahabi’s first dance production had its world premiere at the International Theater Amsterdam in July 2022.
Filmmaker Chris Rijksen captured Siba's project Obscura in a six-minute documentary (see below).
She is also the founder of the Siba Sahabi Foundation, an organisation that focuses on carrying out interdisciplinary art projects in which diversity is paramount and which connect diverse fields that include design, science, film, photography, dance, and music.
The foundation is committed to rejuvenating the traditional (performing) arts in the Netherlands with distinctive productions, such as with Skiagraphia. Sahabi’s first dance production had its world premiere at the International Theater Amsterdam in July 2022.
Filmmaker Chris Rijksen captured Siba's project Obscura in a six-minute documentary (see below).
SELECTION OF CLIENTS / MUSEUMS / GALLERIES / COLLABORATIONS
Museo National de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires • Internationaal Theater, Amsterdam • Saatchi Gallery, London • Cid by UNESCO, Athens • Rossana Orlandi, Milan • Christie’s, London • Art Dubai, Dubai • Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder, Amsterdam • Gallery Mint, London • Gallery Bensimon, Paris • Design Week, Beijing • Salone del Mobile, Milan • The Aram Gallery, London • Bijbels Museum, Amsterdam • Design Biennial, Istanbul • Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven • Maison & Objet, Paris • Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg • Passagen, Cologne • SALON/, Amsterdam • Villa Elisabeth, Berlin • Design Museum, Gent • Dwell on Design, Los Angeles • Korzo Theater, Den Haag • Michelangelo Foundation, Venice • Gallery Octagone, Paris • Munich Creative Business Week, Munich • Stichting Kunstfort, Asperen • Oude Kerk, Amsterdam • London Design Festival, London • Inside Design, Amsterdam • IAPMA Congress, Wonju • Direktorenhaus, Berlin • Premsela, Amsterdam • OTC Gallery, Shenzhen • The Eve Appeal, London • Galerie Sofie Lachaert, Tielrod • Lloyd Hotel, cultural embassy, Amsterdam • Galerie Plaatsmaken, Arnhem • IHM, Munich • Art Factum Gallery, Beirut • Galerie Ra, Amsterdam
AWARDS & GRANTS
Grant by Mondriaan Fund + Creative Industries Fund NL, Amsterdam, 2023
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2023
Short list: Limburg Design Price 2022
Grant by Iona Stichting, Amsterdam, 2022
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2022
Grant by Stichting Gerbrandy, Amsterdam, 2022
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2022
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2021
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2021
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2021
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2021
Grant by the Dutch Embassy, Brussels, 2020
Grant by Iona Stichting, Amsterdam, 2020
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2020
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2019
Grant by Tijl Fonds, Amsterdam, 2019
Grant by Stichting Stokroos, Utrecht, 2019
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2018
Grant by Stichting Gerbrandy, Amsterdam, 2018
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2018
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2017
Grant by Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Amsterdam, 2017
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2016
Grant by Stichting Stokroos, Utrecht, 2015
Grant by Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam, 2015
Short-listed by Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe for the Justus Brinckmann Förrderpreis, Hamburg, 2014
Grant by Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Amsterdam, 2014
Grant by Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Amsterdam, 2012
Honorable mention by Green Dot Awards, Los Angeles, 2011
Grant by Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Amsterdam, 2011
First prize Most Remarkable Repair Award by Platform 21, Amsterdam, 2009
Grant by Berlage Fund, Amsterdam, 2006
Grant by IKEA Stiftung, Hofheim-Wallau, 2006
First prize Comeseedo Competition, Berlin, 2005 Grant by Leonardo da Vinci, Hamburg, 2005
WORKS IN COLLECTION
Design Museum, Den Bosch, NL
GRASSI Museum, Leipzig, DE
Architonic Design Collection, Zürich, CH
GVB Art Collection, Amsterdam, NL
Pavlikeni Museum, Pavlikeni, BG
LECTURES & PANELS
Van Doesburghuis, Inei, Paris, FR, 2023
Kura, Inei, Itoshima, JP, 2023
Dutch Design Week, Shifting the Colonial Gaze: Discussions of Permanence in Design Practices, Eindhoven, NL, 2022
Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Skiagraphia, NL, 2022
Hermintage Museum, Iona Stichting, Amsterdam, NL, 2021
GRASSI Museum of Applied Arts, Leipzig, DE, 2021
New Metropolis - Pakhuis de Zwijger, Amsterdam, NL, 2020
RAUM, Huidhonger, Utrecht, NL, 2020
Maastricht UMC+, Moirai, NL, 2020
Theater Rotterdam, Bring it on! Stimuleringsfonds, NL, 2019
X-Bank gallery, Amsterdam, NL, 2017
Contemporary Image Collective, Cairo, EG, 2017
Roehrs & Boetsch Gallery, Zürich, CH, 2016
Pakhuis de Zwijger, Design for Manufacturing, Amsterdam, NL, 2015
Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder, Qaina, Amsterdam, NL, 2014
OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, CN, 2012
Talente, IHM, Munich, DE, 2007
ADVISORY BOARD
Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie,
board member of the committee design, Rotterdam, NL 2021-2024
TEACHING
Willem de Kooning Academie, Rotterdam, NL, 2020-2023
including the curation of two international lecture programs on
inclusivity and diversity, 2022-23
Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL, 2019
DIRECTOR
Siba Sahabi Foundation, Amstrdam, NL, since 2020
Solo exhibition at ArtGenève with Gallery Roehrs & Boetsch
Performing Arts
FILM SCREENINGS
2024
Cinedans, Eye Filmmuseum, Inei, Amsterdam, NL
2023
Theater Heerlen, schrit_tmacher, Heerlen, NL
Itoshima Geinou, Inei, JP
Gallery Canova 22, Alma, Rome, IT
2022
Cinedans, Eye Filmmuseum, Alma, Amsterdam, NL
Nederlandse Dans Dagen & Cinedans, Alma, Maastricht, NL
2017
artgenève, Roehrs & Boetsch Gallery, Genève, CH
2014
Oude Kerk, SALON/Big Bang, Amsterdam, NL
Istanbul Design Biennial, SALON/dantel, Istanbul, TR
THEATERS
2022
Julidans, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, world premiere: Skiagraphia, Amsterdam, NL
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Fort van Hoofddorp - Osiris, Hoofddorp, NL
2023
Theater Heerlen - schrit_tmacher, Heerlen, NL
2020
New Metropolis - Pakhuis de Zwijger, Amsterdam, NL
Fort van Hoofddorp - Osiris, Hoofddorp, NL
2023
Theater Heerlen - schrit_tmacher, Heerlen, NL
2020
New Metropolis - Pakhuis de Zwijger, Amsterdam, NL
2016
artgenève, Roehrs & Boetsch Gallery, Genève, CH
Roehrs & Boetsch Gallery, Zürich, CH
2015
Transformationen, Rosenthal, MCBW, Munich, DE
DUO EXHIBITIONS
2019
Siba Sahabi / Mark Sturkenboom, Salone del Mobile, Milan, IT
2017
Ellen van der Wiel / Siba Sahabi, Galerie Kiek-Kus, Deventer, NL
2015
Art Lounge, Siba Sahabi / Sebastian Herkner, Rosenthal, Selb, DE
2014
Myungsu Seo / Siba Sahabi, SBK KNSM, Amsterdam, NL
Kim Streur / Siba Sahabi, SBK Amsterdam Zuid, NL
2011
Siba Sahabi / Nel Linssen, Galerie Plaatsmaken, Arnhem,
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
NDSM, Pavlopetri, Amsterdam, NL
2023
Kura, Inei, Itoshima, JP
2022
Sencity Festival, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, NL
2021
Cultural Affairs - Art without Borders, GRASSI Museum, Leipzig, DE
Uncloud / Le Guess Who?, Utrecht, NL
2020
Living Apart Together, Raum, Utrecht, NL
Radical Crafts #2, Museum Direktorenhaus, Berlin, DE
MUMC+, Maastricht, NL
2019
Radical Crafts #1, Museum Direktorenhaus, Berlin, DE
Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, NL
Fashion Clash Festival, Maastricht, NL
Pavlikeni Museum, Pavlikeni, BG
2018
Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, NL
INDEX Design, Ventura, Dubai, AE
YurtCollection, The Haag, NL
Homo Faber, Fondazione Cini, Venice, IT
X-Bank, Amsterdam, NL
2017
Abwab, Dubai Design Week, AE
NL Curated, Indesign, Consulate General of the Netherlands,
Sydney, AU
Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, NL
Rossana Orlandi, Salone del Mobile, Milan, IT
Art and Design, Gallery Letternoon, The Hamptons, US
AMC kunstcollectie, Amsterdam, NL
Designkwartier, YurtCollection, The Haag, NL
artgenève, Roehrs & Boetsch Gallery, Genève, CH
X-Bank, Amsterdam, NL
2016
Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, NL
Wanted Design, Ventura Projects, New York, US
DESIGN.VE, Palazzo Loredan, Venice, IT
Rossana Orlandi, Salone del Mobile, Milan, IT
Plusdesign Gallery, Salone del Mobile, Milan, IT
Gallery Octagone, Paris, FR
X-Bank, Amsterdam, NL
2015
Grassi Messe, Grassi Museum, Craft2eu, Leipzig, DE
Art and Design, Gallery Letternoon, The Hamptons, US
Fine Art Cologne, Galerie Lieblingsstuhl, Cologne, DE
Art Dubai, Gallery Art Factum, Dubai, AE
Gallery OODE, Amsterdam, NL
SALON/Paris, D'Days, Paris, FR
Gallery Letternoon, New York, FR
Ambiente, Rosenthal, Frankfurt, DE
Dutch Design Week, Kazerne, Eindhoven, NL
Rosenthal, IMM, Cologne, DE
2014
SALON/BA, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires, AR
Justus Brinckmann Förderpreis, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, DE
Shape, Pattern and Form, Art Factum Gallery, Beirut, LB
SALON/Big Bang, Oude Kerk, Amsterdam, NL
Sherazade, Passagen, Cologne, DE
Geïnspireerd door de Oudheid, Gallery Archea, Amsterdam, NL
Pols Potten, Maison & Objet, Paris, FR
Potpourri 002, Art Factum Gallery, Beirut, LB
Papier Volume, Gallery Octagone, Paris, FR
Dutch Design Week, Dutch Design Year, Eindhoven, NL
Kraft Work, The Aram Gallery, London, GB
SALON/dantel, Istanbul Design Biennial, Istanbul, TR
2013
SALON/BJ, Dashilar Hutong, Beijing, CN
Winter/SALON 2013, OLHOS Museum, Amsterdam, NL
SALON/Kant, Bijbels Museum, Amsterdam, NL
Front Salon, Dutch Design Year, Amsterdam, NL
Salone del Mobile, Tuttobene, Milan, IT
FlowerCastle, Kasteel Keukenhof, Lisse, NL
Loods 6, SBK KNSM, Amsterdam, NL
Le temps d'avance, Gallery Bensimon, Paris, FR
Inside Design, Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam, NL
Dutch Design Year, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, NL
2012
Collect, Saatchi Gallery, London, GB
Basic Instincts, curated by Premsela, Dutch Design Council, OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, CN
A Spatial Surprise, Mint, London, GB
Galerie Ra, Amsterdam, NL
Mirrors and Candles, Galerie Sofie Lachaert, Tielrode, BE
B29 Studio's, Edwin Pelser, Den Haag, NL
Basic Instincts, curated by Premsela in collaboration with the Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem, Eusebiuskerk, Arnhem, NL
2011
IAPMA, Odenwaldwald Museum, Michelstadt, DE
Paperworks, The Civic Gallery, Barnsley, GB
The Opium Den, Direktorenhaus, Berlin, DE
Galerie Ra, Amsterdam, NL
Galerie Sofie Lachaert, Tielrode, BE
E2bP, Salone del Mobile, Mailand, IT
Pure Village, Internationale Möbelmesse, Cologne, DE
Internationale Handwerksmesse, Galerie Ra, Munich, DE
Paperporcelain, HYM at Magna Plaza, Amsterdam, NL
Basic Instincts, curated by Premsela, Dutch Design Council, Villa Elisabeth, Berlin, DE
2010
De smaak van thee, Design Museum, Gent, BE
Paperworks, Bilston Gallery, in Wolverhampton, GB
Paperficial, Galerie Craft2eu, Hamburg, DE
Amateras, Art Alley Gallery, in Sofia, BG
Open Ateliers Westerlijke Eilanden, Amsterdam, NL
Asia Now, Dwell on Design, curated by Designboom, in Los Angeles, US
European Prize for Applied Arts 2009 at EUNIQUE 2010, WCC Europe, Karlsruhe, DE
World Art Paper, ArtByGenève, Geneva, CH
Paperroad, IAPMA Congress, Wonju, KR
Inside Design, Amsterdam Design Days, Lloyd Hotel Amsterdam, NL
Schwarz, Handwerksform, Hannover, DE
Textiel Festival, Pieterskerk, Leiden, NL
Pensato A Mano, Spotti, Mailand, IT
2009
Pioneers of Change, Governor's Island, New York, US
Repairing, Platvorm 21, Amsterdam, NL
European Prize for Applied Arts, WCC Europe, Mons, BE
Inside Design, Amsterdam Design Days, Amsterdam, NL
2008
Het Balkon, Zuidekerk, Amsterdam, NL
Inside Design, Amsterdam Design Days, Amsterdam, NL
2007
Talente, Internationale Handwerksmesse, Munich, DE
SALON/BJ, Dashilar Hutong, Beijing, CN
Winter/SALON 2013, OLHOS Museum, Amsterdam, NL
SALON/Kant, Bijbels Museum, Amsterdam, NL
Front Salon, Dutch Design Year, Amsterdam, NL
Salone del Mobile, Tuttobene, Milan, IT
FlowerCastle, Kasteel Keukenhof, Lisse, NL
Loods 6, SBK KNSM, Amsterdam, NL
Le temps d'avance, Gallery Bensimon, Paris, FR
Inside Design, Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam, NL
Dutch Design Year, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, NL
2012
Collect, Saatchi Gallery, London, GB
Basic Instincts, curated by Premsela, Dutch Design Council, OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, CN
A Spatial Surprise, Mint, London, GB
Galerie Ra, Amsterdam, NL
Mirrors and Candles, Galerie Sofie Lachaert, Tielrode, BE
B29 Studio's, Edwin Pelser, Den Haag, NL
Basic Instincts, curated by Premsela in collaboration with the Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem, Eusebiuskerk, Arnhem, NL
2011
IAPMA, Odenwaldwald Museum, Michelstadt, DE
Paperworks, The Civic Gallery, Barnsley, GB
The Opium Den, Direktorenhaus, Berlin, DE
Galerie Ra, Amsterdam, NL
Galerie Sofie Lachaert, Tielrode, BE
E2bP, Salone del Mobile, Mailand, IT
Pure Village, Internationale Möbelmesse, Cologne, DE
Internationale Handwerksmesse, Galerie Ra, Munich, DE
Paperporcelain, HYM at Magna Plaza, Amsterdam, NL
Basic Instincts, curated by Premsela, Dutch Design Council, Villa Elisabeth, Berlin, DE
2010
De smaak van thee, Design Museum, Gent, BE
Paperworks, Bilston Gallery, in Wolverhampton, GB
Paperficial, Galerie Craft2eu, Hamburg, DE
Amateras, Art Alley Gallery, in Sofia, BG
Open Ateliers Westerlijke Eilanden, Amsterdam, NL
Asia Now, Dwell on Design, curated by Designboom, in Los Angeles, US
European Prize for Applied Arts 2009 at EUNIQUE 2010, WCC Europe, Karlsruhe, DE
World Art Paper, ArtByGenève, Geneva, CH
Paperroad, IAPMA Congress, Wonju, KR
Inside Design, Amsterdam Design Days, Lloyd Hotel Amsterdam, NL
Schwarz, Handwerksform, Hannover, DE
Textiel Festival, Pieterskerk, Leiden, NL
Pensato A Mano, Spotti, Mailand, IT
2009
Pioneers of Change, Governor's Island, New York, US
Repairing, Platvorm 21, Amsterdam, NL
European Prize for Applied Arts, WCC Europe, Mons, BE
Inside Design, Amsterdam Design Days, Amsterdam, NL
2008
Het Balkon, Zuidekerk, Amsterdam, NL
Inside Design, Amsterdam Design Days, Amsterdam, NL
2007
Talente, Internationale Handwerksmesse, Munich, DE
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