Shahram Saadat: Fixations

posted by Robyn Pitts August 27, 2019

Shahram Saadat is an artist currently based in London. His work focuses on the form of objects, bridging the gap between reality and fiction. He is also the founder of publishing house Duende Print; a platform he launched whilst studying photography at London College of Communication which aims to showcase the working of emerging artists, as well as his own. Shahram currently works in the fashion industry, whilst also continuing with his artistic practice both studio and exhibition based.

Fixations is a collection of appropriated newspaper poster headlines, all created by the method of Letterpress. These headlines have a word altered in order to create a new message. They were then displayed in an urban environment as if they were authentic headlines, in order to gauge the audience’s reactions. There were none. Shahram’s conclusion was that we are so used to the constant bombardment of words around us that we have become immune to their meaning.

“The use of words without images is an aspect which the media exploit. Provocative wording allows the viewer’s imagination to create a story, thus compelling them to pick up the paper and read the complete article. The headline serves purely as an advert for news stories. The more intriguing, the more compelling.”

Fixations is Shahram’s comment on the role of the media and the impact they have on the public. The lack of photographs in these posters is key in maintaining the ambiguity of the headlines. The absence of images allows the viewer’s imagination and curiosity to take over. It is confirmation of the power of the story. On the subject of his project, Shahram states; “Deception is an aspect which is associated with the media; it might be suggested that deception occurs when someone is led to believe what is false. This results in confusion and misinformation. The headline becomes part of the background – one more unsettled question”.

Shahram’s choice of colour intends to echo already existing headline posters. This offers familiarity of context within the piece. Fixations is a series letterpress prints, in contrast to the digital methods of the media outlets. Letterpress takes time to create and results in a handcrafted finish. But this creates a tension in his work since news changes fast; “My work emphasises the speed at which news changes. By the time I have perfected the typeface, my headlines are already out of date” he explains.

Shahram has always been intrigued by type and graphic design. Headlines out on the street stands grab attention by their deliberate economy of words. They exist to sell news, but out of context, they present interesting and forceful one-liners. “In this way the newspaper headline, with its careful selection of words without imagery, mirrors a kind of poetry; every word counts. For this reason, my headlines are my own inventions – open-ended, descriptive without direct association. I want my viewers to feel for my work the same fascination for a compelling header.” Hence, Shahram’s work serves to illustrate the power of the media, to not only relay news but to distort and diverge through use of words to sell the product and capture the viewer’s imagination.