I was born 1968 in Lahidjan, north of Iran. At the age of fourteen I set out to Teheran to study at an Art School for boys. After I was instructed there in sculpture, drawing, painting and art history, I returned to my home region for attending the grammar school in Rascht with the main focus on subjects related to art, where I also received the public school-leaving exam and university entrance qualification in 1988 with graphic art as major subject. From 1989 to 1994 I studied free pictorial art and film at Teheran University, receiving a Master of Arts degree in 1994. I always appreciated the media film and started producing and directing short films in 1988. My film Ghalb (The heart?) was nominated in 1992 at the French International Film Festival of Cannes. From 1994 to 1996, I worked at the educational department of the Teheran Art College and as a lector at Rascht University, where I taught free pictorial art and art history. In 1997 I took up residency in Cologne, Germany. For the first years I worked at advertising agencies and film producing companies. From 2000 to 2008 I ran the Mojavari Gallery which was located at Colognes art centre. It presented the artworks of several international artists, in addition to the paintings of mine. I am currently working as a professional artist in Cologne and planning future projects including a change of location (f.ex. removal to Berlin or another metropolis) for finding new inspiration. Exhibitions (selection)