|
|
Bio:
Hani Alqam’s work is deep-seated in his surroundings and every day experience in his city and of residence, Amman. Primarily a painter and print-maker, Alqam has more recently been involved in organizing and curating projects between the UK and Jordan, supporting and working with other local artists. For his work on the Arab League Café, a coffeehouse in downtown Amman, Hani spent several nights a week over a 6 year period painting and drawing the café and its patrons, a space marked by, as he claims “a harsh rawness and at the same time a fragility that leaves all exposed.” His interest in the ordinary face and body is presented in a few series of projects: One series is of disturbing portraits of seemingly grotesque people, often without any core-body--limbs and heads--but not possessing any parts that “feel” which Alqam claims to embody the lack of energy and agency people possess to make and enable change. A series of thick-brushstroke paintings of faces with gasmasks reiterates his frustration in a passive acceptance of social, political and economic situations in his country.
Born in Al Nasser Refugee camp in 1977, Alqam received a diploma in Fine Arts through the center of Fine Arts Training, Ministry of Culture, Jordan in 1996. He participated in Darat al Funun’s Summer Academy which was supervised by artist Marwan Kassab Bachi, who has had very strong influence over his work. After his training, Alqam worked at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts’ Print making studios as a supervisor and trainer. He has had 4 solo shows in Amman and participated in over 20 group exhibitions there as well, in addition to several exhibitions and residencies abroad. Chosing to remain in Amman rather than go abroad to produce work, the downtown and surrounding area, which bridges the eastern and western sides of the city, both dramatically different worlds, remains to be a vital source and space for Alqam’s work.
Exhibitions/Projects:
2008 Occupied Spaces: Exhibition, A. M. Qattan Foundation, London, UK
2008 Secrets: Exhibition at Darat Al Funun, Curator, participant, Amman, Jordan
2007 Solo Exhibition, Darat al Funun, Amman, Jordan
2007 Encounter Between Two Seas: Biennial of Sao Paulo-Valencia, Spain
2006 Solo Exhibition, Zara Gallery, Amman, Jordan
2005 The 8: A Studio Exhibition, Triangle Vermont Studio Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA
2003 Hues: An Exhibition of Young Jordanian Art, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman, Jordan
2002 Amman Cultural Capital Exhibition, Amman City Hall, Amman, Jordan
Affiliations/Residencies/Fellowships/Workshops:
2008 Art OMI International Artists Residency: 3 week residency program, New York, USA
2001, 1999, Summer Academy, Darat Al Funun, Amman, Jordan
2006 VASL workshop, International Artists, Karachi, Pakistan
Member, Jordanian Plastic Artists Association
|
