Emirati artist has solo show in Switzerland

Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Attributions, 2016, woven textile, 97 x 130 cm. Courtesy AB43 Contemporary Gallery, Zurich.

A show of new works by Mohamed Al Mazrouei, a prominent Emirati artist, writer and poet is going on display in a Swiss gallery.

In an exhibition titled Raw Cooked, the show contains new paintings as well as textile works as the artist has transformed some of his artworks into carpets.

The inspiration came from a time in Abu Dhabi in 1997 when Al Mazrouei’s was working at the Cultural Foundation and researching the journey of Ibn Battuta, a great medieval traveller and scholar who traversed the region for a period of thirty years. On a preliminary visit to the Egyptian component of the trip, Al Mazrouei came across the city of Fuwa, located in the upper north of Egypt that is famous for fabric, tapestry and carpet making on traditional looms. Over the course of the next decade, he went back several times to have his own works made and now they are on display for the first time.

The show runs from April 1- May 13 at AB43 Contemporary in Zurich. The gallery, founded by Heidi and Franz J Leupi has represented leading contemporary artistic positions from the Middle East and Arab countries with a focus on Iran, for more than 15 years. ‘AB’ stands for Across Borders and the Leupis are committed to art dealing as much as promoting and fostering cultural exchange between East and West.