Ham Babaei is a Persian sound artist who is currently based in Germany. He completed his masters in painting and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Fine Art with a focus on Sound at the HBKsaar in Germany. Ham considers sound as a versatile material and integrates it into various artistic expressions such as performance, video, installation and sound-based sculptures. His experimental works delve into the psychological and physical effects of sound, exploring how it can impact individuals. Ham also emphasizes audience participation in the completion of his works, exploring interactive possibilities.
In his sound experiments, he views the guitar not as a conventional instrument, but as an object. By placing it on the table and using effects to create different layers of sound, he aims to create a sonic carpet that unfolds atmospheric soundscapes. He also integrates field recordings and incorporates microtonal oriental melodies in his works. This experimental approach allows him to transcend the traditional role of a guitarist and immerse himself in the world of immersive sound textures. In addition to his work as a sound artist, Ham is also the founder and composer of a metal band called Baramant.

Education

2020-now   Master of Fine Art – Sound Art, HBKsaar by Prof. Katharina Hinsberg, Prof. Eric Lanz & Prof Georg Winter, Saarbrücken, DE
2023-2024   Semester Abroad, Master of Contemporary Arts Practice, by Prof. Valerian Maly & Prof. Michael Harenberg, Bern Academy of the Arts, CH
2009-2011   Master of Painting, Art University, Isfahan, IR
2003-2007  Bachelor of Painting, Science and Culture University, Tehran, IR

 Scholarships/Grants/Awards

2025      Finalist for the ’’Peter and Luise Hager Prize’’, DE
2024    ’’Erasmus+’’,  Autumn Semester, Hungarian University of Fine Art, HU
2023    ’’Deutschlandstipendium’’
2023    ’’ERASMUS Funding’’ Semester Abroad, Bern Academy of the Arts, CH
2023    ’’Kunst gewinnt’’ , Künstlerstadt Kalbe, DE
2022    ’’ DAAD Graduation Grant’’, Saarland Scholarship for International Students at the HBKsaar,DE
2021    ’’9th International Sommercampus’’ , Künstlerstadt Kalbe, DE

Exhibition/Performance

2025  ’’MUT’’, Peter and Luise Hager Prize, Sound installation, Saarländische Galerie, Berlin ,DE
2025 ’’Zeitsprung-Kunst sieht Kunst’’, Sound Installation, Bode Museum, Berlin, DE
2025  ’’Peter und Luise Hager Preis’’, HBKsaar Gallery, Saarbrücken, DE
2024  ’’TCS Festival’’, Concert, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, Berlin, DE
2024   ’’The House of the European Artist’’, Sound installation, Group Exhibition,Hungarian University of Fine Art, HU
2024  ’’Rikma’’, Sound Performance, Group Exhibition, HBKsaar Gallery, Saarbrücken, DE
2024  ’’Unexpected visitors’’, Performance, Múseum Ludwig, Budapest, HU
2024   Performance at “ACT Festival’’, Progr, Bern, CH
2024  ’’1,000,061  ART’S BIRTHDAY’’, after Robert Filliou, radio broadcast, Bern, CH
2023 “Kosmos Nord’’, Concert, BuffetNord, Bern, CH
2023 ’’Sonic Processes’’, Concert, Tanzhalle Wiesenburg, Wedding, Berlin, DE
2023 “Carte Blanche 2’’, Unwrap the Present, Performance, Progr, Bern, CH
2023 “Experimance’’ Festival – Sound installation – Garelly Haus, Saarbrücken, DE
2023 “Sundieren’’– Group Exhibition, Sound Installation, Sundern, DE
2023   “BetaTest’’, Sound Installation, E-Haus, Saarbrücken, DE
2023  Sound performance at Gertraudenhospital, Stendal, DE
2023  Sound performance at Amphitheater, Ökodorf Sieben Linden, Beetzendorf, DE
2022  “Allerbeste Aussichten’’, PEAC Museum, Freiburg, DE
2022   “Elf Ohren’’, Video art, Schaufenster, OPUS, Saarbrücken, DE
2022   “BetaTest’’, Performance, E-Haus, Saarbrücken, DE
2022  “Experimance’’ Festival – Soundart Exhibition- Garelly Haus, Saarbrücken, DE
2022  “Affenschaukel’’ Sound Performance, HBKsaar, DE
2022  “Zwieschen Zeder und Platanen’’  – Group Exhibition, Mainz Hochschule, DE
2022    5th Tehran International Electronic Music Festival, Tehran, IR
2021  “Experimance’’ Festival – Soundart Exhibition- Garelly Haus, Saarbrücken, DE
2021   “Herzschlag’’, Sound Installation, “von wann bis wann”, Bismarkstraße 60, DE
2021   “Drumherum’’ – Group Exhibition, Video Art, Lu60, Saarbrücken, DE
2020   4th Tehran International Electronic Music Festival, -Baramant- Tehran, IR
2020  “The-To-Play-Tool’’  – Solo Exhibition – Platform 3, Tehran, IR
2020  “Felony’’ – Group Exhibition, Sound Art – Aliha Gallery, Tehran, IR
2019  “DSTRCTION’’ – Group Exhibition, Video-Sound Art – Austrian Cultural Forum, Tehran,IR
2019  “Homarg” – Baramant Art Project, The Unveiling, Darbast platform, Tehran, IR
2019  “Adassar’’ – Group Exhibition, Video-Sound Art, Darbast platform, Tehran, IR
2018  “Status“, GAK Gesellschaft für aktuelle Kunst, Bremen, DE
2018  “Dead Room” – Baramant Art Project, Darbast platform, Mohsen Gallery, Tehran, IR
2018  “Inversion” – Baramant Art Project, Emarate Rooberoo, Tehran, IR
2018  “Beethoven Festival”, Bonn, DE
2017  “Gantelope” – Baramant Art Project, Darbast platform, Tehran, IR
2017  “Gantelope” – Baramant Art Project, Austrian Cultural Forum, Tehran, IR
2016  “Dastgah Festival” – Baramant Art Project, Hannover, DE
2016  Baramant Art Project, in Farabi Hal, Art University, Tehran, IR
2016  “Video / Sound performing Baramant Art Project in Mostaghel Theater, Tehran, IR
2015  “Believing History” – Baramant Art Project, Kloster, Lorsch, DE
2011  “Sad Asar, Sad Honarmand “, Golestan Gallery, Tehran, IR
2009  Music interpretation in “Khane Honarmandan”, Tehran, IR
2008  Composer in “The Glass Menagerie”, Roodaki Hal, Tehran, IR
2008   Music interpreter at “Funerals for Fereydoon”, Farabi Hal, Art University, Tehran, IR

Workshop/Artist Talk
2023 “European Design Festival”, workshop, Casino Luxembourg, Luxemburg, LU
2017  “Rock music and the audience” –Artist Talk, Baramant Art Project, Hanouz Publication, Tehran, IR
2009  Painting Workshop, Contemporary Art Museum, Azadi Tower, Tehran, IR
2008  Painting Workshop, Felestin Museum, Tehran, IR

Curation/Artistic activities

2025  Assistant at the HBKsaar Gallery, Saarbrücken, DE
2022  Assistant at the Gallery Ludwigstraße60, Saarbrücken, DE
2022  Curator of  Video Exhibition “Yet alone”- from Student of HBK Saar- Eve Gallery, Tehran, IR
2020  Actor in the video “Ein Man” by Donja Fard
2018  Curator of Exhibition “Overlap”, 3Platform, Tehran, IR
2018  Actor in the video “Gespräch” by Hassan Sheidaei
2016   Actor in the Video ” Das Unerreichbare” by Hassan Sheidaei
2016  Light designer for the video “Mein Sohn” by Hassan Sheidaei
2015  Composer for the videos “Frei im Gefängnis“,  and ” Das Unerreichbare”
2015  Assistant at the video “K2”, awarded audience prize
2014  Curator at the Painting Workshop “Me”, Boostan Book City, Tehran, IR
2010-2013  Composer and Guitarplayer of the music band “Accolade”
2012  Contributor to the album “Seven Pairs of Steely Shoes and Helmets“

Teaching

2015-2020  Lecturer at “University of Science and Culture”, Tehran, IR

Publications/Press

2022  ”OPUS” Das Kulturmagazin der Großregion, Nov/Dez 2022, by Nicole Baronsky-Ottmann, DE
2021  “Gardelegner Kreisanzeiger Newspaper”, Volksstimme.de –  by Malte Schmidt, DE
2021  “ContemporaryIdentities”, International online art magazine -Issue No 10, by Izmer Bin Ahmad, UAE
2018  “Unlimited Reaction”, Zard Magazine“, Mohsen Gallery, by Akram Ahmadi-Tavana, IR
2013  ”Iran’s underground music scene”, CBS News, USA