Art Antwerpen
ART ANTWERPEN
12-15 December, 2024
Booth C17
Madé van Krimpen prouldy presents works by Ahmad Mallah and Klaas Rommelaere. In this selection, both artists, each in their distinctive style, explore the intricate connections between conflict, identity, and the universal human longing for solace
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From Ahmad Mallah, we present a new series of works. In this series, Mallah transforms haunting images from Gaza into layered paintings, blending blurred traces of violence with delicate motifs of flowers and olive branches. Through this process, he seeks to honor his people in Palestine by reimagining their stories, softening the sharp edges of pain while preserving the weight of their reality.
The paintings merge foggy, harsh backgrounds with symbols of life and resilience, creating a dreamlike conversation between trauma and hope. Olive branches and flowers, deeply rooted in Palestinian culture, become acts of remembrance and resistance, offering moments of beauty amidst chaos.
Ahmad Mallah (born 1990) is a Palestinian artist who was born and raised in Syria. He graduated from the St. Joost Academy in Breda and currently lives and works in Amsterdam. His art revolves around themes of war, diaspora, identity, gender, and the body. Mallah uses various art forms to document his personal and political experiences.
The gallery's participation in Art Antwerp is made possible with support from the Mondriaan Fonds.
Seeds of liberation (2024) by Ahmad Mallah, Gouache, acrylics, oil paint and oil pastels on linen, 80x60 cm
At Art Antwerp, we present works from Klaas Rommelaere’s Johnny series. Inspired by Adam Curtis's documentary Can’t Get You Out of My Head and Mike Leigh's film Naked, the series delves into themes of individualism, collectivism, conspiracy theories, national myths, and artificial intelligence. In Johnny, Rommelaere combines impressions from these influences with personal photos, crafting a visual narrative that juxtaposes fears, such as snakes, with comforting elements like nature, candles, and botanical beauty.
Klaas Rommelaere (born 1986, Roeselare, Belgium) creates intricately embroidered tapestries and sculptures that bridge the personal and the collective. His work reflects his lived experiences through familiar symbols that represent both real and imagined human connections. Each piece is a labor of time and care, emphasizing the importance of human connection in art. Rommelaere collaborates closely with a group of skilled elderly craftswomen, known as "The Madams," to bring his ideas to life.
Email info@madevankrimpen if you would like to receive a ticket.
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