Abdulnasser Gharem

Abdulnasser Gharem
عبدالناصر غارم
Gharem in 2009
Born (1973-06-04) 4 June 1973 (age 51)
Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia
NationalitySaudi
EducationKing Abdulaziz Academy, The Leader Institute Riyadh, Al Meftaha Arts Village
Known forConceptual art, installation art, painting
Notable workExit Only, Men At Work, Detour, Makkah Road, Concrete, The Path (Siraat), The Stamp
MovementPostmodern art
Abdulnasser Gharem
Abdulnasser Gharem interviewed by Richard Quest for CNN
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Websitehttp://abdulnassergharem.com/

Abdulnasser Gharem (Arabic: عبد الناصر غارم; born 4 June 1973) is a Saudi Arabian artist[1][2] and also a lieutenant colonel in the Saudi Arabian army.[3] In April 2011, his installation Message/Messenger sold for a world record price at auction in Dubai.[4][5][6]

Gharem's work is in the collections of the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture and Information, His artwork is characterized by innovative use of materials,[7] including rubber stamps, a collapsed bridge, and an invasive tree.[8]

Early life and education

Gharem was born in Khamis Mushait. In 1992 Gharem graduated from the King Abdulaziz Academy before attending the Leader Institute in Riyadh. He has had no formal art training.[9] In 2003 Gharem studied at the Al-Meftaha Arts Village in Abha.

Career

In 2004 Gharem and the Al-Meftaha artists staged a group exhibition, Shattah. in Saudi Arabia. Since then Gharem has exhibited in Europe, the Persian Gulf and the United States, including at Martin Gropius-Bau and at the Venice Biennial, Sharjah Biennial and Berlin Biennale.

His first monograph "Abdulnasser Gharem: Art of Survival" was published in London in October 2011.[10][11]

In 2014 Gharem lives and works in Riyadh. He is the co-founder of the arts initiative Edge of Arabia.[12][13] Gharem donated the proceeds of his sale to Edge of Arabia to foster art education in his native country.[14]

Selected solo exhibition

2022 | Hospitable Thoughts, Marc Straus gallery, 299 Grand Street, New York, US. (6 September - 18 December 2022).[15]

2020 | Smart Obedience Kluger Gehorsam, Galerie Nagel Draxler, Berlin, Germany. (12 Sep - 1 Nov, 2020).[16]

2019 | THE SAFE, Art Unlimited, Art Basel, Basel, Switzerland. (13 Jun - 16 Jun, 2019).[17]

2018 | Subversive forms of Social Sculpture, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, UAE. (26 Sep - 17 Nov, 2018).[18]

2017 | Abdulnasser Gharem: Pause, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, USA (Apr 16 – 16 Jun, 2017).[19]

2014 | The Awakening, Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE. (17 Mar - 30 April 2014).[20]

2013 | Edge of Arabia, EOA Gallery, London, UK (9 Oct - 8 Nov, 2013).[21]

2013 | Abdulnasser Gharem, Side by Side Gallery, Berlin, Germany. (25 Apr - 13 Jul, 2013).[22]

2010 | Restored Behaviour, XVA Gallery, Dubai, UAE (17 Jan- 10 Mar, 2010).

2006 | The Path, King Fahd Art Village, Abha, Saudi Arabia.

2004 | The White Tongue Who Speaks Slowly, King Fahad Art Village, Abha, Saudi Arabia.

2004 | Who Keeps Watching the Sun (Sunflower field), Death Mattered – Attileh, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

2003 | Mute, Attileh, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

2003 | UN Inspector, Attileh, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Selected group shows

2021 | Glasstress Boca Raton. Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, Florida, US. (27 Jan - 5 Sep, 2021).[23]

2017 | Desert to Delta: Contemporary Art in Memphis. Art Museum of the University of Memphis. (8 Oct, 2017 - 6 Jan, 2018).[24]

2017 | Memories of a Journey Hajj – Exhibition . Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE. (20 Sep, 2017 - 19 Mar, 2018).

2017 | Cities of Conviction: Contemporary Saudi Art in Salt Lake City. Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (Aug 25, 2016 – Jan 6, 2017).[25]

2017 | Epicenter X: Contemporary Saudi Art in Detroit. Arab American National Museum. Dearborn, MI. (8 Jul - 1 Oct, 2017).[26]

2017 | Glasstress. Palazzo Franchetti, Venice, Italy. (11 May - 26 Nov, 2017).[27]

2016 | Phantom Punch: Contemporary Saudi Aret in Lewiston Bates College Museum of Art. (28 Oct, 2016 - 18 Mar, 2017).[28]

2016 | Genera#ion Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco, CA. (11 Aug - 6 Sep, 2016).[29]

2016 | Gonzo Arabia: Contemporary Saudi Art in Aspen Boogie's Retail, Aspen, Colorado, US. (30 Jun - 1 Sep, 2016).[30]

2016 | Parallel Kingdom, Station Museum, Houston, Texas (8 Jun - 2 Oct, 2016.

2016 | Illumination, New contemporary art at the Louisiana, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark (1 Mar - 11 Sep, 2016).

2015 | Ricochet - Asia House Gallery, London, UK (12 Oct - 18 Oct, 2015).

2015 | Saudi Art Contemporary, Chalet Saqqarah, Gstaad, Switzerland (18 Apr, 2015).[31]

2014 | View from Inside: Contemporary Arab Photography FotoFest, Houston, Texas, USA (14 Mar - 27 Apr, 2014).[32]

2014 | Word and Illumination Le Meridien Medina Hall, Madinah, Saudi Arabia (10 Feb - 15 Apr, 2014).

2014 | Arab Contemporary, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark (31 Jan - 4 May 2014).

2012 | Light from the Middle East: New Photography – Victoria & Albert Museum, London (13 Nov, 2012 – 7 April 2013).[33]

2012 | 25 Years of Arab Creativity Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France (Oct 16, 2012 - Feb 3, 2013.

2012 | #Cometogether, Edge of Arabia London (07 Oct - 28 Oct, 2012).[34]

2012 | Voice of Images – Palazzo Grassi, Venice, Italy (30 Aug, 2012 - 13 Jan, 2013).[35]

2012 | Edge of Arabia: Contemporary Art From Saudi Arabia – Galerie Krinzinger, Seilerstätte, Vienna, Austria (21 Jun - 7 Jul, 2012).[36]

2012 | Arab Express: The Latest Art From the Arab World – Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan (16 Jun – 28 Oct, 2012).[37]

2012 | Porta dell'Oriente – Roma Contemporary, Italy (25 - 27 May 2012).

2012 | Bending History – Katara Cultural Village, Doha Qatar (8 Mar – 8 April 2012).[38]

2012 | Hajj, Journey to the Heart of Islam – British Museum, London (26 Jan-15 Apr, 2012).

2012 | We Need to Talk – Edge of Arabia - Al Furusia Marina, Jeddah (20 Jan - 26 Feb, 2012).[39]

2012 | Contemporary Istanbul – Turkey ( 22-25 Nov, 2012).

2011 | Political Patterns – ifa-Galerie, Berlin (8 Jul - 3 Oct, 2011).

2011 | The Future of a Promise: Contemporary Art from the Arab World – Magazzini del Sale, 54th Venice Biennale (3 Jun - 30 Nov 2011).[40]

2011 | The Bravery of Being Out of Range – Athr Gallery, Jeddah (May 17 – Jun 11, 2011).[41]

2011 |The New Middle East – Willem Baars Projects, Amsterdam (21 May - 30 Jun, 2011).[42]

2011 | Edge of Arabia Dubai: Terminal – Building 9, Gate Village, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai (14 Mar - 15 Apr, 2011).[43]

2011 | Uppers & Downers – Traffic, Dubai (9 Feb - 5 Mar, 2011).

2011 | Nujoom: Constellations of Arab Art from The Farjam Collection – The Farjam Collection @ DIFC, Dubai (Nov, 2010 – Mar, 2011).[44]

2011 | I Don't Need Your Money Honey All I Need is Love – Traffic, Dubai (5 Jan –27 Jan, 2011).

2010 | Edge of Arabia Istanbul: Transition – Sanat Limani, Antrepo 5 (10 Nov - 11 Dec, 2010).[45]

2010 | Opening the Doors: Collecting Middle Eastern Art,Abu Dhabi Art (3 Nov - 7 Nov, 2010).

2010 | CAVE: Contemporary Arab Video Encounter – Maraya Arts Centre, Sharjah (2 Nov - 11 Dec, 2010).[46]

2010 | Emerging Asian Artists, Gwangju Biennale (3 Sep - 7 Nov, 2010.[47]

2010 | Edge of Arabia Berlin: Grey Borders/Grey Frontiers – Soho House, Berlin (10 Jun - 18 Jul, 2010).[48]

2010 | Fuck Ups, Fables and Fiascos – Galerie Caprice Horn, Berlin (8 Jun-17 Sep, 2010).

2010 | Edge of Arabia World Tour Launch – Global Competitiveness Forum, Riyadh (23 Jan-26 Jan, 2010).[49]

2009 | Taswir: Pictorial Mappings of Islam and Modernity – Martin Gropius-Bau, Berlin (5 Nov, 2009 - 18 Jan, 2010).[50]

2009 | The 28th Annual Exhibition – Gulf Fine Arts Society, Sharjah (10 Mar, 2009).

2009 | Edge of Arabia Venice – Palazzo Polignac, 53rd Venice Biennale (5 Jun - 2 Aug, 2009).[51]

2008 | Edge of Arabia London: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia – SOAS Brunei Gallery, University of London (5 Jun - 2 Aug, 2008).[52]

2007 | Still Life: Art, Ecology and the Politics of Change – Sharjah Biennial 8 (4 Apr - 4 Jun, 2007).[53]

2006 | Son of Aseer – Al-Meftaha Arts Village, Abha (10 Oct - 30 Oct, 2006).

2004 | Shattah – Atelier Gallery, Jeddah (27 Apr - 14 May 2004).

Collections

Publications

  • — (2024). Gesine, Borcherdt. Dream On Baby: Artists and Their Childhood Memories. Germany: Hatje Cantz Verlag ISBN 978-3-7757-5682-2
  • — (2016). Loring, Danforth. Crossing the Kingdom: Portraits of Saudi Arabia. United States: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-29027-3
  • — (2012). Jameel, Porter, King, Stapleton, Al-Turki. Edge of Arabia: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia London: Booth Clibborn.  ISBN 1-86154-323-9
  • — (2012). Porter, Venetia. Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam. London: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-06218-3
  • — (2011). Hemming, Henry. Abdulnasser Gharem: Art of Survival. London: Booth-Clibborn. ISBN 1-86154-324-7
  • — (2011). Lazaar, Lina and Downey, Anthony. The Future of a Promise. London: Ibraaz. ISBN 978-1-86154-323-3

References

  1. ^ "Saudi artist Abdulnasser Gharem's unusual double life". Financial Times By Gareth Harris
  2. ^ Alison Gee. "Abdulnasser Gharem - the Saudi soldier who moonlights as a conceptual artist". BBC News
  3. ^ Patel, Schwetal. "Contemporary Artists Rock the Boat Gently in Saudi Arabia", Dazed Digital, July 2012. Retrieved on 1 August 2012
  4. ^ "Saudi soldier as artist: Abdulnasser Gharem's message, 'Peace, but with security'" Archived 21 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Al Arabiya News, 28 November 2011.
  5. ^ CNN, 29 December 2011, CNN's Becky Anderson talks to artist Abdulnasser Gharem Archived 25 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Anderson, Brooke. "Is the time ripe to buy Middle Eastern art?". BBC.com. BBC News.
  7. ^ Bharadwaj, Vinita. "Contemporary Artists Rock the Boat Gently in Saudi Arabia", The New York Times, 18 January 2012. Retrieved on 23 July 2012
  8. ^ New Statesman. New Statesman Limited. 2007. p. 40.
  9. ^ Vijay Mahajan (13 July 2012). The Arab World Unbound: Tapping into the Power of 350 Million Consumers. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 206–. ISBN 978-1-118-23642-0.
  10. ^ Buali, Sheyma. "Art of Survival", Arab News, London, 19 October 2011. Retrieved on 23 July 2012.
  11. ^ Lord, Christopher. "The sum of Abdulnasser Gharem, soldier artist", The National, 4 November 2011. Retrieved on 2 August 2012.
  12. ^ Grundey, Adam. "Art of War", Rolling Stone, 3 March 2011. Retrieved on 2 August 2012.
  13. ^ Martin J. Gannon; Rajnandini Pillai (3 March 2015). Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys Through 34 Nations, Clusters of Nations, Continents, and Diversity. SAGE Publications. pp. 129–. ISBN 978-1-4833-4005-0.
  14. ^ Milner, Catherine. "Old Customs, New Directions", Financial Times News, 9 March 2012
  15. ^ "Hospitable Thoughts". Marc Straus Gallery.
  16. ^ "Smart Obedience". Galerie Nagel Draxler.
  17. ^ "The Safe, 2019". Art Basel.
  18. ^ "Subversive Forms of Social Sculpture". Sharjah Art Museum.
  19. ^ "Abdulnasser Gharem: Pause". LACMA.
  20. ^ "The Awakening". Ayyam Gallery.
  21. ^ "Abdulnasser Gharem Solo Exhibition". Edge of Arabia.
  22. ^ "Abdulnasser Gharem". Side by Side Gallery.
  23. ^ "Glasstress Boca Raton 2021". Boca Raton Museum of Art.
  24. ^ "Desert to Delta". University of Memphis. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Cities Of Conviction". Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Epicenter X: Saudi Contemporary Art in Dearborn, MI – Arab American National Museum". Arab American National Museum. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Glasstress 2017". Berengo Studio. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  28. ^ "Phantom Punch: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia in Lewiston". Bates College Museum of Art. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  29. ^ "Genera#ion: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia". Minnesota Street Project. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Edge Of Arabia - Contemporary art and creative movements from the Arab World". Edge of Arabia. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Contemporary Saudi Artwork at Gstaad Gallery". Gstaad Life. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  32. ^ "FotoFest Biennial 2014 – View From Inside – FotoFest". FotoFest. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  33. ^ "Light from the Middle East". Victoria and Albert Museum. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  34. ^ "Edge Of Arabia - Contemporary art and creative movements from the Arab World". Edge of Arabia. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  35. ^ "Voice of Images | Palazzo Grassi - Punta della Dogana - Collection Pinault". Palazzo Grassi. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  36. ^ "Edge Of Arabia - Contemporary art and creative movements from the Arab World". Edge of Arabia. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  37. ^ "MORI ART MUSEUM [Arab Express: The Latest Art from the Arab World] 16 June - 28 October, 2012". Mori Art Museum (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  38. ^ "EOA Projects Exhibition". Katara Cultural Village.
  39. ^ "Edge Of Arabia - Contemporary art and creative movements from the Arab World". Edge of Arabia. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  40. ^ "The Future of a Promise: 54th Venice Biennale". Edge of Arabia. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  41. ^ "The Bravery of Being Out of Range". ATHR Gallery. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  42. ^ "The New Middle East". Willem Baars Projects. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  43. ^ "EDGE OF ARABIA DUBAI: TERMINAL". Edge of Arabia. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  44. ^ "Nujoom: Constellations of Arab Art from The Farjam Foundation | The Farjam Foundation". The Farjam Foundation. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  45. ^ "Edge of Arabia Istanbul: Transition". Edge of Arabia. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  46. ^ "CAVE". Maraya Art Centre. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  47. ^ "Gwangju Biennale - 8th Biennale (2010)". Gwangju Biennale (in Korean). Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  48. ^ "Grey Borders/Grey Frontiers". Edge of Arabia. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  49. ^ "World Tour Launch". Edge of Arabia. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  50. ^ "Taswir - Pictorial Mappings of Islam and Modernity". universes.art. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  51. ^ "53rd Venice Biennale". Edge of Arabia. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  52. ^ "Edge of Arabia | SOAS". www.soas.ac.uk. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  53. ^ "Sharjah Biennial 8 Still Life: Art, Ecology, and the Politics of Change". Sharjah Art Foundation. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  54. ^ Greenbox Museum, dictionary of Saudi Arabian artists