Published on the occasion of the 59th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, in 2022, this retrospective monograph is the official catalog of the National Pavilion of the United Arab Emirates, which has chosen the Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim to represent them.
This collection of essays, together with over 30 artworks and installation views by Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, contributes to the historical and theoretical discourse on art from the Emirates. It is a welcomed addition to an area of study that has long remained under-researched. The seminal essays dedicated to the celebration of the long career of Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim undertake an analysis of his work and the context for his art practice over a period of four decades. The first part of the book provides an in-depth study of Ibrahim's practice within the context of the UAE's emerging art scene. What comes to the forefront through these essays is that the cycle of life is central to the artistic expression of Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, as he draws inspiration from the recurring rhythms of nature.
Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim (born 1962) is part of the UAE's first generation of contemporary artists from the late 1980s, an avant-garde scene that included Hassan Sharif, Abdullah Al Saadi, Hussain Sharif, and Mohammed Kazem. Ibrahim's work has been inspired by a lifelong relationship with the environment of Khor Fakkan, his place of birth, with the Gulf of Oman on one side and the Hajar Mountains on the other. This deep connection to his local environment repeats itself throughout his studio practice, whether through his installations, drawings or objects, and the materials he has worked with for over three decades.
