Born in Bahrain
Lives and works in Helsinki, Finland
Previously in my practice I was curious about socio-political and religious environments where the subject of being ‘Female’ is themed, especially in my large drawings, where I translated “the woman” ‘in to a legend that intersects between the reinterpretation of European classical paintings with elements of western feminist performances. I created various re-enactments through a modern Arab lens, “How does an Arab woman replace a colonial role?” Especially when derived from western classical paintings.
In my current practice, I conduct an anthropological research of Bahrain’s social, Cultural and historic practices expressed through classical Drawing techniques. With a strong focus on the Jirbah musical instrument.
Education:
2006 - 2008. BA Fine Art (Drawing), RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
2004 – 2005. Visual Arts Diploma, TAFE, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
2002 – 2003 Introductory Course in Art and Design, Dundee College, Dundee, Scotland
Solo Exhibitions:
2021. ‘As we gaze upon her’ Banat collective, Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
2019. ‘Taking a chance on Love’, Le Pave D’orsay, Paris, France
2016. ‘Hummus Reflections’, Third Space Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2012. 'Premonition', Bin Mattar House Museum, Muharraq, Bahrain
2009. ‘Army of Mariam’,Spring of Culture Festival, El Bareh Gallery, Bahrain
2008. ‘The Unlovely’, First Site Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2021. ‘To Err is Human’, Mänttä XXV Art Festival, FI
2021. ‘Becoming a Target’, Myymälä2 Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2020. ‘Becoming a Target’, Casa della Musica di Cervignano del Friuli, Italy
2019. ‘Square’ STOA cultural center, Helsinki, Finland
2018. ‘Rasi637’ Kouta Gallery - Kouvola Art Museum Poikilo, Kouvola, Finland
2018. ‘KHAHLIL GIBRAN: A Guide for Our Times’, Sotheby's, London, UK
2018. ‘Liberty’ Gallery Krutz, Porvoo, Finland
2017. ‘Femme’ Exhibition on Bahraini female artists, UNESCO, Paris
2016. ‘RCA secret’, Royal College Of Art, London, UK
2015. ‘Göteborg poetry festival’, Sweden
2015. ‘Women On Walls – WOW Unchained’ American University Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
2015. ‘Postlude Vol.1: The Post Oriental Odyssey, The Mine Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2015. ‘41st Annual Fine Art Exhibition Bahrain’, Bahrain National Theater, Bahrain
2014. ‘She Views Her Self’, Gallery 6 Mandeln, Paris, France
2014. ‘Women On Walls’ Ras Al Ain Gallery, Amman, Jordan
2012. 'Bahrain 38th Annual Fine Art Exhibition', Bahrain National Museum, Bahrain
2011. ‘Spaces and the in-between’, Riwaq gallery, Bahrain
2010. ‘Dekakeen’ Manama Souq, Spring of Culture Festival, Bahrain
2010. ‘The View from Here – 19 Perspectives on feminism’, Next Wave Festival, Melbourne, Australia
2010. As the Land Expands’, Riwaq Gallery, Bahrain
2009. ‘Scattered in a Monument’ Elham Arts Festival, Bahrain National, Museum, Bahrain
2008. ‘Humming a New Dysphonia’ Blind Side Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Awards:
2012. First Prize in the 38th Bahrain Annual Fine Art Award, Bahrain National, Museum, Bahrain
2008. Prize Finalist of ‘6 Degrees’ for ‘Human Landscape: The Cult of Personality’ Frankston Art Centre, Melbourne, Australia
International Art Biennials:
2013. ‘A world of your own’ Kingdom of Bahrain Pavilion, Venice Biennale, Curator Melissa Enders Bhatia, Venice, Italy
2009. ‘Across the Gulf’ Curator Dr. Irene Barberis, Brisbane Arc Biennial, Australia
Grants & Scholarships:
2013. Research, production and travel grant for the Bahrain Pavilion, Venice Biennale, Ministry Of Culture, Bahrain.
2012. Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture and Research grant for the exhibition 'Premonition' at the Bin Mattar House Museum, Bahrain
2008 – 2009. Scholarship for research, Metasenta Projects, Melbourne, Australia
Publications:
2015. “33 Artists...33 Islands ….A Kingdom of Art" written by French author and art critic Mr. Renaud Siegmann
2013. “A world of your own” Pavilion of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Venice biennale. Issued by the Ministry of Culture, Kingdom of Bahrain.
2010. “The view from here 19 perspectives on Feminism” Written and produced by Victoria Bennet and Claire Rae
2009. “Across the Gulf” Written and produced by Irene Barberis and Keith Winter
Collections:
2019. “Davanti al Trono” Private collection of AG Behbehani, Kuwait
2015. Voice of Rain” Permanent collection of the Ministry of Culture, Beijing, China
2013. “Victory” Personal collection of her Excellency Shaikha Mai Al Khalifa, Minister of Culture, The Kingdom of Bahrain and a permanent display at the National Theater of Bahrain.
2012. “Freedom from the Muse” Permanent Collection at the National Museum of Bahrain
Presentations / Artist Talks:
2019. “Nationalism” Migration Memory Encounters, Museum of Movement, Malmo, Sweden
2015. “Artist Encounters – What it means to be a Gulf Artist” Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Qatar
2014. “The Business of Art in the Arabian Gulf” Third Space Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
2014. “What is Contemporary Art in the Arabian Gulf?” Corner College, Zurich, Switzerland
2010. “What is feminism in western art and how do Middle Eastern feminists incorporate Western ideas in to their practice”, Royal University for Women, Bahrain.
2010. “Introduction to current Middle Eastern contemporary practices”, Macgregor State High School, Brisbane, Australia.
2009. ‘Differences between Western art history & Middle Eastern art history and its current effects on contemporary art in the Middle East’, Riwaq Gallery, Bahrain
2009. ‘Across the Gulf’ Brisbane Arc Biennale, Pecha Kucha, Powerhouse, Brisbane, Australia
2009. ‘Army of Mariam’ Tashkeel, Dubai, UAE
Teacher / Instructor:
2021. ‘Performative Drawing’ HIV Point, Helsinki, Finland
2020. ‘Colour theory’, Africa Care, Helsinki, Finland
2015. ‘Mentorship program – Artist Encounters’, Mathat: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Qatar
2015. ‘Mathaf Education: Idea development’ Qatar Academy, Doha, Qatar
2015. ‘Life Drawing’, Redbull Creative Space, Amwaj, Bahrain
2014. ‘Contemporary Drawing’, Anamil Gallery, Bahrain
2012. 'Drawing for adults', Ministry of Culture, Bahrain
2012. 'Drawing for children', Ministry of Culture, Bahrain
2010. Teacher Intensive Drawing Workshop, Riwaq Gallery, Bahrain
2010. Studio Assistant and Ceramic Painting Instructor, Studio Ceramic, Bahrain