Energy House 2.0 welcomes Manchester artist Omid Asadi for residency

Born and raised in Iran in 1979, Omid ventured into engineering and boxing before embracing art’s calling. Through his work, he navigates a diverse journey that intertwines past experiences with creative expression. 

Commissioned by the University’s Art Collection team, his residency will run from Spring 2026 until the end of the year. The Energy House team first met Omid when they supported his solo show at Castlefield Gallery, by helping to source local recycled building materials such as recovered bricks from demolished houses.

‘Resonance and Remnants’ was informed by Omid’s experiences of revisiting the location of a family home later destroyed by redevelopment, alongside the memory of an earlier home lost to war during his childhood.

On preparing for the opportunity, Omid Asadi said: “It’s great to be part of this programme with the University’s Art Collection and Energy House. The opportunity to witness the reconstruction and building of a house inside the chamber, connected to the 1930s, is particularly fascinating.

“I’ve always been interested in the idea of home and places that no longer exist, so this context feels especially meaningful for me. I’m really looking forward to studying the space more closely and working alongside people from different fields over the coming months.”

Spanning across national and international exhibitions, Omid’s artistic ventures have captivated audiences with his unique approach. His work acts as a vital lens through which he examines the broader human condition, delving into complex, poignant issues such as immigration, identity, environment and memory.

Stephanie Fletcher, Curator of the University’s Art Collection, said: “Omid’s solo exhibition at Castlefield Gallery in 2023 was incredible. It has been fantastic to see his practice develop further since, and we’re delighted to be able to reconnect for this new residency. The recreated 1930s house poses a unique new challenge and opportunity for artistic response, and builds on our previous series of Energy House residencies.”

Existing at the centre of Omid’s practice, these concepts are shown throughout his work which encompasses mediums such as installation and sculpture, to video and performance.

Working closely with the EH2.0 team over the next few months, Omid’s plans include creating new work in response to the pioneering retrofit research that is being carried out at the world-leading facility, focusing on a recreated 1930s era house.

Located on Fredrick Road campus, Energy House 2.0 opened in 2023 with two large-scale laboratories capable of recreating 95% of the world’s weather, with temperatures ranging from -23C to 51C, as well as solar gain, wind, rain, and snow. It aim is to help the UK housing stock on the road to net zero.

Grant Henshaw, Research Fellow at Energy House, said: “It’s great to be working with Omid again through this new artist residency. His work has a really thoughtful way of connecting materials, place and personal stories, which makes him a fantastic fit for Energy House Labs.

“With construction of our new Retrofit Centre about to begin, we’re excited to see how Omid responds to the space and the research behind improving our homes, and how his work can help bring those ideas to new audiences.”

Photo credit: Omid Asadi, Resonance and Remnants (2023) at Castlefield Gallery, photo courtesy of Jules Lister