FATHI HASSAN
BIOGRAPHY
Fathi Hassan was born in Cairo in 1957 to Nubian and Egyptian parents. His family were forced to leave their homeland of Nubia when the Aswan High Dam was built in 1952, flooding a vast area now under Lake Nasser. Whether in photographs, paintings, installations, drawings or, often, directly on walls, his texts are deliberately illegible intended to highlight the plight of lost languages and oral history as a result of colonial domination. In his early twenties he obtained a grant to study at Naples Art School and, after graduating in 1984, he continued to live for many years in Italy. Latterly working between Italy and Great Britain, he finally took up residence in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2018. In his work Hassan experiments with the written and spoken word, exploring the theme of ancient languages erased by colonialism. With invented Kufic-inspired scripts, he plays with the symbols, textures and calligraphy of his Nubian heritage to explore the space between graphic symbolism and literal meaning in vibrant colours and collage. Forms are often given to these texts which can become as important as the text itself. These tend to be the organic forms of the natural world: the human face, leaves, plants, flowers, animals, the universe and its heavenly bodies. For many years Hassan also experimented with the vase form in his highly regarded series of Containers.
Fathi Hassan currently works with Sulger Buel Gallery in London and Nil Gallery in Paris ,and also collaborates with several Galleries ,such as Richard Saltoun in London, and Rose Issa Projects in London. Messadi Gallery, il Cairo.
He exposed with Lawrie Shabibi Art Gallery, Dubai, having participated with them at the 1.54, Art Fair, London (2018), and the recent solo exhibition “Whispers” at the Dubai Gallery (2019). His work will also be presented by them at the Dallas Art Fair 2019. He is also working with Moroso Designs, Milan in the production of his tapestry featuring his work.
For many years, he worked productively with renowned curator Rose Issa. As well as the solo show “Fathi Hassan: Haram Aleikum” curated by Rose Issa Projects at Leighton House Museum, London (2010), he participated in “The “Re-Orientations II”, Rose Issa Projects, London (2012), “The Seven Valleys”, Rose Issa Projects, London (2013). Their collaboration also included “Arabicity” at the Beirut Exhibition Center, Lebanon, as well as several publications.
Over the past 30 years he has participated in numerous solo and group shows in Italy (including the 1988 Venice Biennale), Belgium, Denmark, Great Britain and the USA. Of the solo shows we might mention “Containers of Memory”, Annina Nosi Gallery, New York (1995), “Fathi Hassan”, National Museum Villa Pisani, Stra, Venice (2008),“Fathi Hassan: Transformation” at Skoto Gallery, New York (2011), “Faces and Voices”, John Rylands Library, Manchester UK (2012), “The Depth of Hope”, V.C.U. Qatar, Doha (2014) “Migration of Signs”, Williams Museum, Massachusetts (2015), and “Whispers”, Lawrie Shabibi Galery, Dubai (2019). Group shows include an installation at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington DC (2002), “Text Messages”, October Gallery, London (2006) “Arabicity” at the Bluecoat Arts Centre, Liverpool and Beirut Exhibition Centre (2010), Rose Issa Projects at Abu Dhabi Art (2011) and “Summer Exhibitions”, Royal Academy, London (2012).
His work is in the permanent collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum, London and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington DC and Farjam Collections among many others.
He is the subject of numerous publications and writings by major critics, curators and experts, from Rose Issa, Achille Bonito Oliva, Maurita Poole and Liliane Karnouk to Kathleen Goncharov, Francesca Petracci, Elizabeth Harney and Enrico Crispolti. He also features in the recent book“Lumieres Africaines” published by Langages du Sud, (2018).
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
1983
“Temperatura Flegrea”, Terme di Baia, (Naples), organised by the artists
1984
“Alflela: One Thousand Nights”, Studio Ricerca Aperta, Naples, curated by gabriele perretta .
“City with no boundaries”, Pomigliano d’Arco, Napoli, organised by G. Perretta, texts by F. Menna, G.Bartolucci, L. Mango, R. Bonfiglioli, G. Dipietrantonio, M. D’Ambrosio, N. Manferlotti, G. Di Martino.
1985
“A New Generation in Italian Art”, Fortezza Medicea, Siena, curated by Enrico Crispolti
1986
“New Tendencies in Italy, travelling show”, Centro Grisanti, Milan and Perterre, Florence
1987
“SAHARA”, Neon Gallery, curated by Gino Gianuizzi and Valeria Medici, Bologna
1988
Venice Biennial “Aperto 88”, organized by Dan Cameron and Giovanni Carandenti, Venice
“Capua – South East Direction”, Campano Museum, Capua
1989
“art salon Under 35”, painting prize, Ministery of Culture Award, Il Cairo, Egypt
1990
“If I gave you my soul ten times …”, Multimedia Gallery, curated by Romena Ioda, Brescia
“Meeting of Peoples”, Villa Lazzarini, Rome
“XXXIII Young Egyptian Artists”, Egyptian Academy, Rome
1991
“Signs of Absence”, Prisma Gallery, curated by Luigi Meneghelli, Verona
“AKHATON, 7 contemporary Egyptian artists”, Palazzo Diamanti, curated by Farina-Siniscalco, Ferrara
1992
“Ter-Dislocations of Art” Civic Gallery, curated by Achille Bonito Oliva, Termoli
1993
“Mare Nostrum III”, Immart Gallery, curated by R. Pontremoli, Rome
“Dioce- Calligrafie”, M. S. Filippo Neri, curated by E.B. Gentili, Turin
“Noah’ s Ark”, Trevi Flash Art Museum, Perugia, Umbria, curated by F. Pietracci, F. Monti, Trevi (PG)
1994
“Saharian Conflict”, Mashrabia Gallery, curated by Stefania Angrano, Il Cairo
1995
Contenitori Di Memoria, Annina Nosei Gallery, Curated by Francesca Pietracci, New York
1996
“The Abode of the Gods”, Villa Anselmi, CuRATED BY Luigi Meneghelli, Bolzano/Verona
1997
“Go, thought” (Italian Art 1984/96, City Museum, curated by Edoardo di Mauro, Turin
“Under Different Skies”, curated by Artistio middle east Copenaghen – Denmark
1998
“Containers of Thought”, Seno Gallery, curated by Ambrogi/ G. Abbondio, Milan
1999
“El Mersal“, Pack Gallery, Milan
“Blessed Africa”, Riccione (Rosini), Bergamo (Oprandi) Fano (Una Arte)
“Contemporary African Art”, Italian Institute for Africa and the Orient, Rome
2000
“TRANSAFRICANA”, Ex-church of S. Giorgio in Poggiale, curated by Africa and Mediterranea, bologna
“Alleviating Unstoppable Impulses”, University of Pavia, curated by Pietro Finelli, Pavia
2001
“Gold Imagination”, Vanvitellian Pier, Ancona, curated by Enrico Crispolti
2002
“A Postmodern Babel, Italian Art of the 1990s“, Palazzo Pigorini, organised by Edoardo di Mauro, Parma
“Africamarvel”, curated by Ursula e Michael Schmitt, Municipality of Rastatt, Germany
“Spirit Matter” benciv art gallery , pesaro, Art-pro-Art, curated by Franz Moratt, Lahr, Germany
“Desert Wind”, Palazzo esposizioni, curated by A. Nosei and F. Pietracci, Rome
“Donotfearindulgence”, Spirale Arte, Verona
2003
“Nile sand”, archaeological Museum , curated by Francesca Pietracci, Palestrina Roma
“9th Cairo International Biennial”, Cairo, Egypt
“Places of Affection”, Hotel de Ville, curated by Angelo Capasso, Brussels
2004
“Sicily and the Arabs”, Loggiato S. Bartolomeo, curated by Lorenzo Zichichi and G. Sicuri, Palermo
2005
“Textures: Word and Symbol in Contemporary African Art”, Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington DC
“Inside Italians No.3”, Italian Institute of Culture & Novarum Projects, Copenhagen
“Travelling show with the Oprandi Gallery”, Bergamo, Hong Kong, Beirut, Brussels, Paris, and Granada
2006
“Text Messages: Five Contemporary Artists and the Art of the Word”, October Gallery, London
“Italian Dreams”, GASP Gallery, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA
“History of Containers”, Benciv Art Gallery, Pesaro
2007
“Fathi Hassan: Selected Works”, Skoto Gallery, New York
Contemporary Videofusion, Studio RO, Rome
“The temple of wind”, Genus gallery, curated by Gloria Gradassi, San Benedetto Del Tronto (AP)
“Safir”, Palazzo Ducale, Urbino
“Inscribing Meaning”, Fowler Museum, Curated by Elisabeth Harney E Christine Kreamer, California
“Italian Dreams and Dreaming of Italy”, travelling show: Teatro Junghans at SGuardi Sonori, Venice, curated by Carlo Faticoni
“Migration of dreams”, Antichi Forni, curated by Oriana Salvucci, Macerata
“Espijismos”, San Pedro museum, curated by Aziza Alaoui, Mexico (Puebla)
“Horizon Lines: Landscape Between Description. and Abstraction”, Modern Art Gallery, curated by Maurizio Ciaccaluga, GenoA
2008
“Dakar Biennale 2008”, Senegal
“In the Mediterranean”, Ex Aurum, Pescara
“Marina di Ravenna Award”, Municipal Art, Museum of Ravenna
2009
“Antologica”, Villa Pisani, curated by Valli Cavedagna, Stra (Venezia)
“Adorned/Unadorned”, Skoto Gallery, New York
“Containers of Light”, Andrea Art, text in catalogue by Cecilia Antonini, Vicenza
Invites, Museum Arnhem, Netherlands
“MAFRIQUE”, Spazio Moroso, Milan
“Arabian World Festival”, San Severina, Cortona
“Water, The Music, Soul”, Auditorium SanTA Margherita, Venice
“Kenuz”, Domus Artis Gallery, curated by Milena Grosso, Naples
2010
“Arabicity”, Rose Issa Projects at Beirut Exhibition Center, Beirut, Lebanon
“Arabicity”, Rose Issa Projects at the Bluecoat Arts Centre, Liverpool
“The Temple of Zeus“, Valle dei templi, Agrigento
“MASHRABIA“ contatto arte and studio protecno architettura, Faenza
“El Muhager”, meeting with Fathi Hassan, Fondazione Balestra E Studio, Fioravanti, Sorrivoli
“Tasaheel”, L’Idioma art centre , Ascoli Piceno
2011
“Summer Show”, Skoto Gallery, New York
“Mixed Hanging”, Rose Issa Projects, London
Rose Issa Projects at Abu Dhabi Art
“Signs Of Our Times”, Rose Issa Projects,
Leighton House Museum, London
“Haram Aleikum, Notions Of Shame”, Rose Issa Projects, London
“mediamorfosi 2.0”, sud lab, curated by Gabriele Perretta, Portici (Naples)
“The art of writing”, Art Forum of Wiesbaden, Germany
“Trasformation”, Skoto Gallery, JunE – JUly, New York
“Abu Dhabi Art”, Rose Issa Projects, Dubai
2012
“Re-Orientations II”, Rose Issa Projects, London
Sharjah biennial, Dubai
“Summer Exhibitions “, Royal Academy, London
“The skin I live in”, Feb/March, Pack Gallery, Milan
“ONLY WORDS. Great artists of the second half of the 20th century”, Per Mari e Monti Gallery, Civitanove Marche
“Faces & Voices”, john rylands museum, Manchester UK
2013
“Re- Orientations II”, Rose Issa Projects, London
“The Seven Valleys”, Rose Issa Projects, London
“Egyptology”, British Museum, curated by Venetia Porter
2014
“The Depth Of Hope”, curated by Caitlin Doherty, V.c.u. qatar, Doha.
“Asemic”, Hallen Van Het Belfort, curated by Michel Dewilde, Cultuurcentrum Brugge, Belgium
“Black and Gray”, Skoto Gallery, New York
“New Grammars”, tribute to Fathi Hassan, Rocca Malatestiana, Fano.
“Sacred Drops”, Rastatt, Germany.
“ad personam”, contemporary art francesca monti, civitanove marche
“what remains”, Rose issa projects, London
2015
“Migration of Signs “, Williams museum, Massachusetts, curated by Maurita Poole.
“MARE MOTUS”, ISLANDS EOILE 1950/2015, Sicily, Lipari Castle, curated by Lea Mattarella and Lorenzo Zichichi.
Etico / ETICHAL, cultural association PLANA “award” Milan Expo, 2015
2016
African Art Against the State, Williams museum, Massachusetts, U.S.A
“OUR LANGUAGE “, Egyptian Museum OF Fine Art, text by
maurita poole .
“THE GESTURE “ massaioli fondation (hassan – Shiraga), Fabbriano, italy.
“Edge of Memory “, Clark Museum, Atlanta (Georgia), USA, organized by Maurita Poole.
2017
“ ANIMALIA” galleria Monti , Rome, curated by Angelo Capasso and Nikla Cingolani .
“ SLAVERY “ A.I.C.A , MIlano.
“ Cortesie per gli ospiti “ palazzo collicoli, Spleto, curated by Gianluca Marziani.
“ On the Road , galleria pio monti , Rome.
2018
(ML = ESTER 33), Brancaleoni CastLE, Piobbico, curated by R. Gasparelli , Urbino .
london ART FAIR 1.54, lawrie shabibi gallery.
2019
“Whispers “lawrie shabibi gallery, Dubai
DALLAS ART FAIR “ Lawrie shabibi gallery
materialize “ lawrie shabibi gallery, dubai.
2020
Cape Twon art fire, lawrie shabibi gallery.
“Dream waves “ zamalek art gallery. Cairo, egypt.
2021
Soul Taming, Sulger Buel gallery, curated by Naglaa el agheily.
2022
s.o.a.s university “ artists, Talk “ webinar, curated by Angela paschiera and najlaa al ageily, sulger buel gallery , london.
1.54 AFRICAN ART.. SULGER BUEL GALLERY. SOLO SHOW. LONDON.
Santa rosa univ museum, visiting artist. ( meeting ) . curated by Heidi Saleh, California.
“ 1.54 african Art , Paris ….. Nil Gallery .
“small Antology fathi hassan “ , Benciv art gallery . Riccione, italy .
2023
the future of traditio ,“s . o . a . s “ univ. brunei gallery “ curated by rose issa , Lonon .
“ sharja biennal” curated by hoor al qasemi. u.a.e .
1.54 marrakesh , nil gallery.
public collections
-Victoria & Albert Museum.
-british museum.
-Smithsonian National Museum of African Art,
(Washington DC).
-metropolitan museum, NEW YORK (EGYPTIAN ART).
-Fondazione Fausto Radici (Bergamo).
-flash art museum, trevi ( perugia ).
–Barjeel foundation (Sharjah,U.A.E),
-Symphonia s. g. r. (Milan).
-williams college museum of art, Massachusetts.
–salon first prize young Egyptian art, painting, under
35 years, 1989.
-Beirut art center.
the Farjam collection .dubai.
Rose Issa Projects.
-Rosini Gutman Fondation.
-MMAC Marta massaioli .
-egyptian museum of fine art.
–Clark Museum, Atlanta , U.S.A
-stanford museum, california.
-texas southern university museum, texas USA.
– fondation h , antananarivo,paris , Madagascar.
– sharja art foundation .
selected publication
- signse of our times.
- arab photography now.
- venice biennal 1988 .
- inscribing meaning. smithsonian.
- fathi hassan. leigton house museum and rose issa projects.
- arabicity,contemporary arab art.
- light from the middle east, new photography.
- lumieres africaines,l,elan contemporain.
- modern egyptian art, 1910 – 2003 .
- spirit matter ,2002 .
- new generation to italy, 1986, fabbri edit.
- soul taming, sulger buel, 1.54 african art.
- PHAIDON, AFRICAN ARTISTS : FROM 1882 TO NOW .
- reflections, british museum.
- the farjam collection , yale univ .volume ii .