ESHRAQ اشراق is a research project by Ali Eslami, built in Unreal Engine and inspired by Suhrawardi's Illuminationist philosophy, exploring modular systems and agency through computational models as a cognitive playground. It is an ongoing body of work that unfolds in several forms: a simulation you can enter, a film, physical objects, and a written record of its making.
Ali Eslami
ArtistIranian-Dutch artist based in Amsterdam (b. 1991). Long-term, practice-based research in memory, computation and human cognition, often through non-Western frameworks like Illuminationism. Alumnus of the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten (2021–23); awards include the IDFA DocLab Award, the Golden Calf, the Cremer Prize and the Wendy-Gutman Prize.
K.O. Productions
ProductionAmsterdam-based production house for art & technology, run by creative producer Siuli Ko since 2007. After early years at V2_, Institute for the Unstable Media, Siuli has produced and toured immersive work internationally, including Ali Eslami & Mamali Shafahi's Nerd_Funk. Marijn Bril (curator, researcher) is part of the K.O. team and works on the production of ESHRAQ.
Will Scarlett
Writer & ResearcherWriter and researcher of the uncertain spaces between sensation and the surrounding world. PhD in Anthropology from the New School for Social Research, exploring experiences of presence in virtual and elemental environments. His essays for ESHRAQ appear on this blog.
Shahin Entezami
SoundIranian musician and sound artist based in Paris, known as Tegh. Rooted in noise, drone and glitch with experimental elements, combining audio into complex soundscapes that bring new aural experiences to life.
- Graphic DesignDanial Alemasoum
- 3D Art AssistantBabak Modarresi
- VoiceZehra Eekhout · as Liz Hoekstra
- Interns & Research AssistantsNesa Pourgholi, Max Kortmann, Julian Van Halteren
Molly Palmer
Shreya de Souza
Texts and images on this blog are licensed under CC BY 4.0
unless noted otherwise. The ESHRAQ simulation, film and artworks are all rights reserved.