British Council British Council Visual Arts

Haroon Mirza creates sculptural assemblages and installations that are often heard before they are seen. He uses household objects such as found furniture, outmoded musical equipment, lamps and television sets to generate a seemingly infinite field of sound. Mirza seeks to isolate the moments where noise is perceived as sound and sound is perceived as music by exploring the distinctions between hearing and listening. His subjects vary from club culture to religious faith and are invariably contextualised by moments in musical history. Mirza regularly includes existing works by other artists within his installations in the same way that he works with materials; he draws on something existing and attempts to alter their function by combining and forming a much larger musical as well as visual composition.

 Haroon Mirza holds an MA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art & Design and an MA in Design Critical Practice and Theory, from Goldsmiths’ College. His first solo exhibition was at The A-Foundation, Liverpool (2009) and he participated in Boule To Braid at Lisson Gallery, London, and the Sheffield Pavilion, Istanbul, both 2009. His work was in the British Art Show 7 in 2010. In 2011 he was awarded the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale for a promising young artist  for 'the way his work immediately engages the viewer with its refreshing use of weakness and power'. His participation was supported by the British Council. He currently lives and works in Sheffield and London.

Click HERE to read an interview with the artist in conversation with Emma Williams, Exhibition Organiser, British Council.