Mohammed Kazem on four decades of pushing the boundaries of Emirati art
Hail pellets broke through the awning. They pierced holes in the corrugated green plastic. Sunlight streamed through the holes the following morning, casting facsimile shapes of light in the shade. To the young Mohammed Kazem , the holes looked like eyes. They were on the blinds, in the shadows on the walls and on the ground, enveloping him from above, from below. The eyes changed as the day…
Mohammed Kazem has spent four decades pushing the boundaries of Emirati art. The journey began in 1996, when a hailstorm in the home of his mentor, artist Hassan Sharif, inspired him to capture the unique patterns of light and shadow. The resulting photographs were titled Faces to Face and later exhibited at the Sharjah Art Museum.
Sharif, an artist who had studied in London, played a pivotal role in Kazem's early training, introducing him to art history and providing materials and resources. Over the years, Kazem's work evolved from traditional forms to experimental pieces, including his Tongue series and Photographs with Flags series. These works offered a unique perspective on the rapid urban development in Dubai and Sharjah during the 1990s.
The Faces to Face series, now being presented at the first Frieze Abu Dhabi, bridges the gap between two generations of Emirati artists, showcasing the intergenerational dialogue between Kazem and multidisciplinary artist Alia Zaal.
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