Demir Ramazanov: Finding Inter-Media Inspiration
Born in Germany, raised in Kazakhstan, and now living in Paris, fourth year BFA Art, Media, and Technology student Demir Ramazanov draws inspiration from a range of sources. “Having a multicultural background has definitely shaped my creative approach,” he says of his work, which explores time, place, and media.
Ramazanov’s thesis project—I saw flowers growing from a chair— encompasses furniture design, film, set design, and CGI in a reflection on the complexity of our relationship with nature. Ramazanov digitally designed furniture pieces and then placed them in different environments using game software that gives the tableaux a cinematic feel. He is producing some of the furniture for a gallery setting.
“I’m really interested in our relationship with nature and human influence on the environment,” says Ramazanov. His large-scale mural Syn-Vios, which depicts a human body as part of the natural landscape, was selected for display at LA CASERNE, a multipurpose sustainable fashion hub in Paris.
During an internship at L’AiR Arts, an international artist-in-residence nonprofit organization, Ramazanov participated in creating Ukrainian artist Vasyl Grubliak’s installation Russian Kiss. The work is a site-specific piece consisting of bomb fragments collected from towns and villages across Ukraine and suspended from the gallery ceiling—a poignant reminder of the effects of war. Ramazanov helped design the exhibition materials and produced a video documenting the installation process.
Ramazanov’s work with artists in various media has allowed him to develop a sophisticated aesthetic and approach to art direction. For a recent collaboration with accessory designer Oihana Lasa Pérez, a Parsons Paris graduate, Ramazanov created At the Lake, a photographic series featuring Pérez’s jewelry modeled in idyllic natural settings. “Oihana and I have similar artistic interests,” says Ramazanov, “and we’re both intrigued by representations of water and people’s relationship with water.”
For Ramazanov, being at the center of one of the world’s art and fashion centers has been an important part of his success. “I’m so grateful,” says Ramazanov. “Parsons Paris offers so many opportunities.”