Young Collectors Auction - exhibit-E

AhmedASKALANY1978Lot 027'Kissing' Signed, Dated, NumeratedH45 X W27 X D27 cm. Plyester (2/3) 2008Estimate (US$ 1,500 - 2,500)Born in 1978 in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, Ahmed Askalany is a multidisciplinary artist whoutilizes materials and techniques dating back to ancient times in sculptural works that areinspired by the traditional aesthetics of his birthplace. A sort of contemporary homage tothe resounding visual culture of Upper Egypt, he utilizes woven palm leaves and resin (inaddition to ceramic and wood in other works) to emphasize voluminous forms. Blurring theboundaries between Fine Art and Folk Art, he subtly questions the limitations of sculpture,while enunciating the possible horizons of installation art. Expanding the scope of hisoeuvre, he also has produced a sizeable body of paintings.Exhibiting regularly since 2000, he has participated in a number of national competitions,including the Cairo International Biennial and Egypt’s annual Youth Salon, and has beenhighlighted by Cairo’s most prominent art spaces Townhouse Gallery and MashrabiaGallery. Receiving substantial interest in his work within the Gulf art scene in recent years,he has participated in Abu Dhabi Art and is currently represented by Art Sawa Galleryin Dubai. Internationally, he has exhibited throughout Europe, most notably at the 2009Venice Biennale, where he represented Egypt.