Omar Zingaro Bhatia of the MacIntosh clan, so he claims, is of Indo-African and Canadian descent. He was born on a cool spring morning in the year 1986 in the north of Scotland. After his birth he grew up on a nature reserve known only as ‘Insh Marshes’ in the Highlands until he moved with his family to a range of mountains along the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania, East Africa. Between the ages of 8-11 Omar absorbed the darker side of Africa and carried this 3 year experience back to the UK within him, the mark of which can be seen in his work. After a time lost in the Great British education system, it became apparent that Omar’s only chance was Art School. During his controversial time at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design he escaped on an ‘Erasmus’ exchange to Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania (Romania). After months spent in the cafes and women of Transylvania he was summoned back to his course at D.O.J, threatened with the risk of failure, and unapologetically returned with a truly pitiful amount of work. He later claimed that the experience was ‘invaluable’ and produced a fairly well received book called ‘Refugee of Reality'. Omar's degree show was selected in the top 20 (2009) by Art World magazine. Omar ,after flogging his work to 8 tutors while at art school, used his cunning and talent after his acclaimed degree show to secure as many exhibitions as possible. In the five months following art school he did no fewer than 7 exhibitions and secured himself another 4. Turning up to meetings with his characteristic briefcase, hat, mis-matched suits and a suave, if slightly arrogant smile, he was sure to charm them, and he did. Listed in the Catlin Guide and showing work at the London Art Fair within 7 months of graduating Omar is an emerging leviathan in the crooked world of art.
Arts education_____________________________________________________
NC Portfolio preparation-----------------------------------------------------Cardonald College, 2003
HNC Portfolio preparation---------------------------------------------------Glasgow North College, 2004
BA (Hons) Art, Philosophy & Contemporary Practices------------------Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, 2005-09
Past exhibitions_______________________________________________________
‘2nd Year showcase’, Roseangle Gallery, Dundee, spring 2006
‘Poor traits’, Bradshaw Arts Space, D.O.J, Dundee, winter 2006
‘Welcome to Dallas’, Casa Matei, Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, winter 2007
‘Patarut’, Zorky Photo Cafe, Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, winter 2007
‘Iron Irony’, Lucian Blaga, Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, winter 2007
‘Unknown Treasures’, Romanian Secret Society of Art, Transylvania, winter 2007
‘Albac 21’, Gheorgheni, Transylvania, winter 2007
‘Peek into my Arthole’, Roseangle Gallery, Dundee, winter 2008
‘Omars Spuriosity Shop’ (Degree show), Vision Building, Dundee, spring 2009
‘Mustachios’, Agacan Turkish Restaurant, Dundee, summer 2009
‘Gruntwork 2’, 31 Ebertystrasse, Berlin, summer 2009
‘Paint Can’, The Travelling Gallery, Based in Edinburgh, summer 2009
‘Cut/Paste’, Embassy Gallery, Edinburgh, summer 2009
‘Hoopdash the II’, The Rep Theatre, Dundee, autumn 2009
‘The Fatalistic Family’, Che Camille Fashion House, Glasgow, autumn 2009
‘Omar's Homecoming Victory Show’, Lochwinnoch Library, Renfrewshire, winter 2009
Future exhibitions_____________________________________________________
‘Tasty Canvas’, Byre Theatre, St. Andrews, autumn 2009
‘The Unholy Trinity’, Forest cafe, Edinburgh, spring 2010
‘Homecoming show’, Kilbirnie Library, Renfrewshire, spring 2010
‘New Contemporaries’, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, spring 2010
Awards & Accolades__________________________________________________
2007, Romanian Scholarship, Erasmus
2009, Selected as a featured member ArtReview website Nov. 2009
2009, Selected for the Catlin Guide 2010
2009, Degree show selected in the top 20 in the UK by Art World Magazine Sep/Oct issue 2009
2010, Selected for New Contemporaries, Royal Scottish Academy 2010
Publications__________________________________________________________
‘Refugee of Reality’, Omar Bhatia, self-published, first publication May 2008.
‘Pikinski Vashtar Rathbone’, Omar Bhatia, self-published, first publication May 2009.
Commissions_________________________________________________________
2008, ‘What was in this’, wall mural, Hackney, London, Private commission.
Thank you
Mon, 09/11/2009 - 22:40 — Valery KoroshilovHi Omar,
it is true about the time spent on all these sites. And today you have contributed to it, too!
After reading your comment posted in Forums here, I had to go to your blog.
Very interesting things.
What I liked in your comment was the line about the artist's identity, - that presenting a blog one thinks of shaping up one's identity. I never thought of it in these terms, but it's very true.
So, thank you for that.
I always try to see the London Art Fair, and I will certainly drop by (although I am not exhibiting). Please, let me know when you are there, I will be glad to meet you.
My best wishes,
Valery