ArtDayME: Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, one of the most famous contemporary artists of the UAE, is present these days with a project called ELEVATION by the leading UAE gallery Lawrie Shabibi at booth A32 at Art Abu Dhabi 2023.

Who is Mohammad Ahmed Ibrahim?

Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim (b. 1962, UAE) is part of the UAE's first generation of contemporary artists from the late 1980s, an avant-garde scene that includes Abdullah Al Saadi, Hussein Sharif, Mohammed Kazem, and the late Hassan Sharif.

Ibrahim represented the UAE at the 2022 Venice Biennale with a large-scale installation titled Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim: Between Sunrise and Sunset. The exhibition presented a new body of work created for the National Pavilion UAE, curated by Maya Allison, Executive Director of The New York University Abu Dhabi Art Gallery.

His works have been acquired by significant international collections, including Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah; Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah; Art Jameel Collection, Dubai; Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah; Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha; Kunstcentrum Sittard, Sittard: The British Museum, London; and Le Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.

In his practice Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim selects colours and patterns that harmonise with the work he is creating, infusing each piece with a childlike sense of wonder and a view of the world that brims with exuberance. Yet, within this playfulness, a deeper sense of contemplation and reflection emerges. Each artwork serves as a canvas for his interests in archaeology, psychology, and the reinterpretation of familiar objects. By doing so, the artist reinvents the way we perceive and engage with our surroundings. As viewers move through the booth, they are invited to playfully engage with the anamorphic shapes, interpret the work in their own unique ways, and revel in the colours that saturate each corner of the space.

Elevation is a multi-faceted exploration of how art can inspire playfulness, contemplation, and a renewed connection to the world around us. Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim consistently explores his profound bond with the natural landscape of Khor Fakkan's mountainous terrain in his studio creations.

This connection is discernible in his sculptural installations, paintings, works on paper, and the materials he has employed for over thirty years. His hand-made objects are shaped like primitive tools, bones or parts of trees and appear to have been unearthed from some ancient den, rather than handcrafted. The title used to regroup the artwork selection, hints at both the geographic distance to the sea level and the artist's spiritual approach to his practice. This challenges preconceptions, and invites visitors to contemplate their place in the world.

Through his paintings the artist often reveals his own form of language- inscriptions, lines and abstract forms that are reminiscent of ancient cave drawings marking time and memory through meditative repetition. Here, viewers witness the harmonious convergence of Ibrahim's two- dimensional and three-dimensional works. Paintings and sculptures are juxtaposed to illustrate the symbiotic relationship between the two forms. The selection explores how his symbolic motifs resonate across both mediums, bridging the gap between dimensions.

Ibrahim’s works are held in significant international collections, including Sharjah Art Foundation; Sharjah Art Museum; Art Jameel, Dubai; Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah; Mathaf, The Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha; Kunstcentrum Sittard, Sittard; The British Museum, London; and The Centre George Pompidou, Paris.

About Lawrie Shabibi

Lawrie Shabibi is a contemporary art gallery housed in Dubai's Alserkal Avenue. The gallery supports the long-term development of the careers of young international contemporary artists with a focus on those from the Middle East and North Africa. The gallery also organises art historical exhibitions working with an older generation of artists from the region. Liaising with curators, institutions, museums and collectors the gallery has successfully introduced international artists to the region whilst at the same time presenting Middle Eastern artists to the international contemporary art community. By holding a regular programme of exhibitions, screenings and talks, publishing catalogues and participating in international art fairs, Lawrie Shabibi has been a forerunner in the development of the contemporary art scene in Dubai.

Lawrie Shabibi was founded in 2010 by Asmaa Al-Shabibi and William Lawrie and opened its doors in early 2011 in Alserkal Avenue.