The 9th Trois-Rivières International Biennale of Contemporary Printmaking (BIECTR) introduced an Iranian artist as the winner of its first prize.
Contemporary printmaker Mehdi Darvishi claimed the Grand Prix de la Biennale prize with seven works from his ‘Endgame’ series.
“Out of 385 works by 57 artists from 26 countries in the final round, I won the first prize of the contest,” Darvishi told Honaronline.
The Grand Prix de la Biennale is one of the prizes awarded by the biennale jury. It is accompanied by a bursary of $2,400.
Focused on quality, the BIECTR has become a must for printmaking artists in Canada, and even North America. It is held from June to September every two years since 1999 in Qebec and is one of the main international printmaking exhibitions in Canada.
The biennale’s mission is to promote the importance of contemporary printmaking and to support and propose research in this discipline from all over the world. The exhibition and its related events lead to the discovery of remarkable works as well as to nourish the artistic milieu on the international stage.
Each selected artist for the contest receives an exhibition fee and can receive only one prize awarded by the jury. However, they can be awarded another prize, by the associates or by the public.
“The ‘Endgame’ series is a reflection of the entanglement of life and my outlook on death,” said the artist. “I see death as something bitter and a one-time chance (to overcome) can sweeten life.”
Darvishi got his bachelor’s degree in painting from Tehran University School of Fine Arts. He later learnt preliminary techniques of printmaking with field expert Mehrdad Khataei who taught at the university.
He has participated and won prizes in the 11th Acquiprint International Printmaking Biennial in Italy, the second Graphic Art Biennial in Romania, the 3rd Guanlan International Printmaking Biennial in China, and the first International Painting Competition of University Students and fifth Visual Arts Competition of Iranian Students in Iran.
He has also participated in more than 30 group exhibitions in Iran, the US, Italy, China and Romania.
