Mr Roozbeh Rajaie
FINE AND APPLIED ART TECHNICIAN
Fine Art and Design
0151 291 3987
rajaier@hope.ac.uk
I am a Fine and Applied Art Technician at Liverpool Hope University and also have an independent practice as a ceramicist. I started working part-time at Hope as a Graduate Assistant in 2008 (after finishing my undergraduate studies) since then, I have been employed as a full-time Fine and Applied Art technician at the University. In addition to my technical role, I have assisted in the curation and installation of national and international works of art within the Cornerstone Gallery at the Creative Campus. Before I came to Hope, my educational background was in Maths and Physics. In 2005 I enrolled on the Level 0 (Art and Design Foundation course) at Hope then I completed a BA in Design in 2008. Subsequently, I completed an initial master's degree in Creative Practice in( Ceramics) in 2010 and then a second master's degree, the MA by Creative Practice, in (Media and Digital Technology) in 2013. My ceramic work is influenced by the evolution of Persian and Eastern architecture and by contemporary Western design. Within my ceramic practice, I also use new emerging digital technologies to inform this, such as Laser cutting and 3D printing and Computer-aided design. I combine traditional process-based techniques with digital methods, research which informs my practice and enhances the studio and technical environment. In 2009 I exhibited my work at the Milk and Sugar gallery (Liverpool) and in 2011, I had a joint exhibition at The Hilton Hotel. In 2013, for my MA Exhibition, I was sponsored by Virgin Rail and Dodson [Ceramics] Company and had an exhibition at the Virgin First Class Lounge at Liverpool Lime Street railway station. In 2017 I was part of the ECAlab exhibition at The Royal Institute of British Architects, which was a collaborative project (since 2013) between Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool University and Leeds University. In 2018 I was part of the PlatFORM exhibition at Tate Liverpool. Internally, although part of our Technical support remit, I continually participate in wider School events such as Liverpool Hope collaboration of Design and Dance: Project Asylum and the recent project 2019 at Liverpool Hope University (Dance, Drama, and Design) Cabaret: interdisciplinary production involving various subjects and wider school workshop participation. I have also been involved with The Graduate Schemes Company with Forgotten Future Collaboration of (Dance, Drama and Performance) at Tate Exchange.In 2020 during the Covid-19 crisis, I was involved in planning and preparing in a collaborative initiative between Liverpool Hope University and St Hilda's CE High School to make Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the NHS. My role involved preparing the physical environment of the Creative Campus's FABLAB and setting up the laser cutter and Illustrator file, and 3D printer. In my role, I worked alongside Associate Professor Richard Hooper and Jason Jones ( Fine and Applied Art Technical Manager).In 2022 I was working with an artist as part of his research which was exhibited at Bluecoat gallery. In September 2022 I was part of the joint Exhibition called Celebrating Design at Hope at the Bluecoat Display Centre. In 2023, I was a gallery technician setting up a Liverpool Independents Biennial Exhibition called Liverpool Radicals. Liverpool Radicals is an organisation that aims to boost the profile of exciting new artists by enabling them to exhibit in high-quality and iconic spaces free of charge. Their mission is to create Liverpool`s answer to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival but for visual artists. In November 2023 I curated two exhibitions for Milap as a part of the Indika festival, which celebrates music, dance, culture and the visual arts. In 2006 and 2007, I was invited to design Liverpool Hope University's residence t-shirt. In 2007 I volunteered to work with the charity Habitat for Humanity to assist in the construction of housing for the underprivileged. This role also allowed me to utilise my skills in interior design to develop spaces for better living. In 2006 I was honoured by receiving the Spirit of Hope Award and the Vice Chancellor's Mission & Values Prize in 2008.