Sholeh Asgary

Sholeh Asgary is an interdisciplinary sound artist whose immersive works, performances, and audience-participatory scores implicate the viewer-participant into future mythological excavations. Her practice bridges vast stretches of time and history through the use of water, water clocks, crude oil, movement, light, imaging, voice, and sound. Asgary has exhibited and performed at institutions such as ARoS Kunstmuseum, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Euphrat Museum, and Gray Area Foundation for the Arts. Her work has received support through numerous residencies and awards, including Mass MoCA (2021), Headlands Center for the Arts (2021), California Arts Council (2020), and the Kenneth Rainin Foundation NEW Commissioning grant through Dance Elixir (2019). She is currently a Lecturer at UC Berkeley’s Department of Art Practice and serves on the curatorial council at Southern Exposure in San Francisco, CA. Born in Tehran, Iran, she holds degrees from Mills College (MFA) and San Francisco State University (BA). About the Performance: Qanat is an interactive sound and light installation named after the ancient Iranian underground water channel system. By amplifying the resonant qualities of a traditional rug with the sound of water, a pendulum microphone above picks up rug vibrations, movement, and room tone, creating a live feedback loop. Visitors are invited to sit, lie, or stand on the rug, altering the transmission of sound throughout the gallery. The exhibition also includes embossed topographical prints created by Asgary’s breath and a video work referencing water, transmission, and incommunicability. Qanat reminds us that we are all born into the comforting darkness of sound and water. Performance and Special Event Date and Time: Friday, May 16, 2025, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Location: Botanical Garden Details: Live vocal rendition of Qanat 5 by Sholeh Asgary, with a potential live performance featuring Electronic_Khipu_ by Patricia Cadavid.