FATHI HASSAN
BIOGRAPHY
WAS BORN IN CAIRO IN 1957 TO NUBIAN AND EGYPTIAN
PARENTS. SINCE GRADUATING IN 1984, HE HAS LIVED IN
LE MARCHE, ITALY, AND CURRENTLY WORKS BETWEEN
ITALY AND GREAT BRITAIN.
IN HIS DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND
INSTALLATIONS, HASSAN EXPERIMENTS WITH THE
WRITTEN AND SPOKEN WORD, EXPLORING THE THEME OF
ANCIENT LANGUAGES ERASED BY COLONIAL
DOMINATION. WITH INVENTED, KUFIC-INSPIRED
SCRIPTS, HE PLAYS WITH THE SYMBOLS, TEXTURES AND
CALLIGRAPHY OF HIS NUBIAN HERITAGE TO EXPLORE THE SPACE
BETWEEN GRAPHIC SYMBOLISM AND LITERAL MEANING IN VIBRANT
COLOURS AND COLLAGE.
AS WELL AS THE SOLO SHOW, "FATHI HASSAN: “HARAM ALEIKUM",
CURATED BY ROSE ISSA PROJECTS AT LEIGHTON HOUSE MUSEUM,
LONDON (2010), HE HAS PARTICIPATED IN “THE SEVEN VALLEYS”, ROSE
ISSA PROJECTS, LONDON (2013); “RE-ORIENTATIONS II”, ROSE ISSA
PROJECTS, LONDON (2012); "ARABICITY " CURATED BY ROSE ISSA
PROJECTS AT THE BEIRUT EXHIBITION CENTER, LEBANON, AND
"ARABICITY - SUCH A NEAR EAST" CURATED BY ROSE ISSA PROJECTS AT
THE BLUECOAT ART CENTRE, LIVERPOOL (2010).
OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS HE HAS PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS SOLO
AND GROUP SHOWS IN ITALY (INCLUDING THE 1988 VENICE BIENNALE),
BELGIUM, DENMARK, EGYPT, GREAT BRITAIN AND NEW YORK. RECENT
SOLO EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE “FACES AND VOICES”, JOHN RYLANDS
LIBRARY, MANCHESTER (2012) FATHI HASSAN: TRANSFORMATION,
SKOTO GALLERY NEW YORK (2011); FATHI HASSAN, LEIGHTON HOUSE
MUSEUM (2010); “TASAHEEL", CENTRO D'ARTE L'IDIOMA, ASCOLI PICENO
(2010); "KENUZ", DOMUS ARTIS, NAPLES (2009) AND A SOLO SHOW AT
THE MUSEO NAZIONALE VILLA PISANI, STRA, VENICE (2008). GROUP
SHOWS INCLUDE: “SUMMER EXHIBITIONS “ ROYAL ACADEMY, LONDON
(2012); ROSE ISSA PROJECTS AT ABU DHABI ART (2011); “ARABICITY” AT
THE BLUECOAT ARTS CENTRE, LIVERPOOL, AND BEIRUT EXHIBITION
CENTER, LEBANON (2010); “TEXT MESSAGES” AT THE OCTOBER GALLERY,
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LONDON (2006); AND AN INSTALLATION AT THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL
MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART, WASHINGTON DC (2002).
HIS WORK IS IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION OF THE VICTORIA &
ALBERT MUSEUM AND THE BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON AND THE
SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART, WASHINGTON DC
AND FARJAM COLLECTIONS.
HE IS THE SUBJECT OF THE PUBLICATIONS “FATHI HASSAN” EDITED BY
ROSE ISSA (BEYOND ART PRODUCTION, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-9559515-6-5);
“FATHI HASSAN” BY ACHILLE BONITO OLIVA AND LUIGI MENEGHELLI
(CHARTA, 2000. ISBN-10: 8881582848; ISBN-13: 978-8881582846) AND
“FATHI HASSAN” EDITED BY ENRICO CRISPOLTI (EDIZIONI DELLA
ROVERE, 2002). HE ALSO FEATURES IN THE PUBLICATIONS “ARABICITY”
(ROSE ISSA PROJECTS AND BEYOND ART PRODUCTION IN
COLLABORATION WITH BEIRUT EXHIBITION CENTER, 2010. ISBN: 978-09559515-5-8); “EGYPTIAN ARTISTS” WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED BY BOOKS
LLC (2010; ISBN-10: 1157093922; ISBN-13: 978-1157093923);
“SUDANESE ARTISTS" WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED BY BOOKS LLC (2010;
ISBN-10: 1158490410; ISBN-13: 978-1158490417); "MODERN EGYPTIAN
ART 1910-2003" BY LILIANE KARNOUK (AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO
PRESS; 2005. ISBN-10: 9774248597; ISBN-13: 978-9774248597) AND
"CONTEMPORARY EGYPTIAN ART" BY LILIANE KARNOUK (AMERICAN
UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO PRESS; 1995. ISBN-10: 9774243242; ISBN-13:
978-9774243240).
SELECTED SOLO SHOWS
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1983
“TEMPERATURA FLEGREA”, TERME DI BAIA, (NAPLES),
ORGANISED BY THE ARTISTS
1984
“ALFLELA: ONE THOUSAND NIGHTS”, STUDIO RICERCA APERTA,
NAPLES
“CITY WITH NO BOUNDARIES”, POMIGLIANO D’ARCO, NAPOLI,
ORGANISED BY G. PERRETTA, TEXTS BY F. MENNA,
G.BARTOLUCCI, L. MANGO, R. BONFIGLIOLI, G.
DIPIETRANTONIO, M. D’AMBROSIO, N. MANFERLOTTI, G. DI
MARTINO.
1985
“A NEW GENERATION IN ITALIAN ART”, FORTEZZA MEDICEA,
SIENA, CURATED BY ENRICO CRISPOLTI
1986
“NEW TENDENCIES IN ITALY, TRAVELLING SHOW”, CENTRO
GRISANTI, MILAN AND PERTERRE, FLORENCE
1987
“SAHARA”, NEON GALLERY, CURATED BY GINO GIANUIZZI AND
VALERIA MEDICI, BOLOGNA
1988
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VENICE BIENNIAL “APERTO 88”, ORGANIZED BY DAN
CAMERON AND GIOVANNI CARANDENTI, VENICE
“CAPUA – SOUTH EAST DIRECTION”, CAMPANO MUSEUM, CAPUA
1989
“ART SALON UNDER 35”, PAINTING PRIZE, MINISTERY OF
CULTURE AWARD, IL CAIRO, EGYPT
1990
“IF I GAVE YOU MY SOUL TEN TIMES …”, MULTIMEDIA
GALLERY, CURATED BY ROMENA IODA, BRESCIA
“MEETING OF PEOPLES”, VILLA LAZZARINI, ROME
“XXXIII YOUNG EGYPTIAN ARTISTS”, EGYPTIAN ACADEMY,
ROME
1991
“SIGNS OF ABSENCE”, PRISMA GALLERY, CURATED BY LUIGI
MENEGHELLI, VERONA
“AKHATON, 7 CONTEMPORARY EGYPTIAN ARTISTS”, PALAZZO
DIAMANTI, CURATED BY FARINA-SINISCALCO, FERRARA
1992
“TER-DISLOCATIONS OF ART” CIVIC GALLERY, CURATED BY
ACHILLE BONITO OLIVA,TERMOLI
1993
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“MARE NOSTRUM III”, IMMART GALLERY, CURATED BY R.
PONTREMOLI, ROME
“DIOCE- CALLIGRAFIE”, M. S. FILIPPO NERI, CURATED BY E.B.
GENTILI, TURIN
“NOAH’ S ARK”, TREVI FLASH ART MUSEUM, PERUGIA, UMBRIA,
CURATED BY F.PIETRACCI, F.MONTI, TREVI (PG)
1994
“SAHARIAN CONFLICT”, MASHRABIA GALLERY, CURATED BY
STEFANIA ANGRANO, IL CAIRO
1995
CONTENITORI DI MEMORIA, ANNINA NOSEI GALLERY, CURATED
BY FRANCESCA PIETRACCI,NEW YORK
1996
“THE ABODE OF THE GODS”, VILLA ANSELMI, CURATED BY
LUIGI MENEGHELLI, BOLZANO/VERONA
1997
“GO, THOUGHT” ( ITALIAN ART 1984/96, CITY MUSEUM,
CURATED BY EDOARDO DI MAURO, TURIN
“UNDER DIFFERENT SKIES”, CURATED BY ARTISTIO MIDDLE
EAST COPENAGHEN - DENMARK
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1998
“CONTAINERS OF THOUGHT”, SENO GALLERY, CURATED BY
AMBROGI/ G. ABBONDIO, MILAN
1999
“EL MERSAL“, PACK GALLERY, MILAN
“BLESSED AFRICA”, RICCIONE (ROSINI), BERGAMO (OPRANDI)
FANO (UNA ARTE)
“CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART”, ITALIAN INSTITUTE FOR
AFRICA AND THE ORIENT, ROME
2000
“TRANSAFRICANA”, EX-CHURCH OF S. GIORGIO IN POGGIALE,
CURATED BY AFRICA AND MEDITERRANEA, BOLOGNA
“ALLEVIATING UNSTOPPABLE IMPULSES”, UNIVERSITY OF
PAVIA, CURATED BY PIETRO FINELLI, PAVIA
2001
“GOLD IMAGINATION”, VANVITELLIAN PIER, ANCONA,
CURATED BY ENRICO CRISPOLTI
2002
“A POSTMODERN BABEL, ITALIAN ART OF THE 1990S”,
PALAZZO PIGORINI, ORGANISED BY EDOARDO DI MAURO,
PARMA
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“AFRICAMARVEL”, CURATED BY URSULA E MICHAEL SCHMITT,
MUNICIPALITY OF RASTATT, GERMANY
“SPIRIT MATTER”, ART-PRO-ART, CURATED BY FRANZ MORATT,
LAHR, GERMANY
“DESERT WIND”, PALAZZO ESPOSIZIONI, CURATED BY A. NOSEI
AND F. PIETRACCI, ROME
“DONOTFEARINDULGENCE”, SPIRALE ARTE, VERONA
2003
“NILE SAND”, ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM , CURATED BY
FRANCESCA PIETRACCI, PALESTRINA ROMA
“9TH CAIRO INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL”, CAIRO, EGYPT
“PLACES OF AFFECTION”, HOTEL DE VILLE, CURATED BY
ANGELO CAPASSO, BRUSSELS
2004
“SICILY AND THE ARABS”, LOGGIATO S. BARTOLOMEO,
CURATED BY LORENZO ZICHICHI AND G. SICURI, PALERMO
2005
“TEXTURES: WORD AND SYMBOL IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN
ART”, SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART,
WASHINGTON DC
“INSIDE ITALIANS NO.3”, ITALIAN INSTITUTE OF CULTURE &
NOVARUM PROJECTS, COPENHAGEN
“TRAVELLING SHOW WITH THE OPRANDI GALLERY”, BERGAMO,
HONG KONG, BEIRUT, BRUSSELS, PARIS, AND GRANADA
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2006
“TEXT MESSAGES: FIVE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND THE ART
OF THE WORD”, OCTOBER GALLERY, LONDON
“ITALIAN DREAMS”, GASP GALLERY, BROOKLINE,
MASSACHUSETTS, USA
“HISTORY OF CONTAINERS”, BENCIV ART GALLERY, PESARO
2007
“FATHI HASSAN: SELECTED WORKS”, SKOTO GALLERY, NEW
YORK
CONTEMPORARY VIDEOFUSION, STUDIO RO, ROME
“THE TEMPLE OF WIND”, GENUS GALLERY, CURATED BY GLORIA
GRADASSI, SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO (AP)
“INSCRIBING MEANING”, FOWLER MUSEUM, CURATED BY
ELISABETH HARNEY E CHRISTINE KREAMER, CALIFORNIA
“ITALIAN DREAMS AND DREAMING OF ITALY”, TRAVELLING
SHOW: TEATRO JUNGHANS AT SGUARDI SONORI, VENICE,
CURATED BY CARLO FATICONI
“MIGRATION OF DREAMS”, ANTICHI FORNI, CURATED BY
ORIANA SALVUCCI, MACERATA
“ESPIJISMOS”, SAN PEDRO MUSEUM, CURATED BY AZIZA
ALAOUI, MEXICO (PUEBLA)
“HORIZON LINES:LANDSCAPE BETWEEN DESCRIPTION.
AND ABSTRACTION”, MODERN ART GALLERY, CURATED BY
MAURIZIO CIACCALUGA, GENOA
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2008
“DAKAR BIENNALE 2008”, SENEGAL
“IN THE MEDITERRANEAN”, EX AURUM, PESCARA
“MARINA DI RAVENNA AWARD”, MUNICIPAL ART, MUSEUM OF
RAVENNA
2009
“ANTOLOGICA”, VILLA PISANI, CURATED BY VALLI
CAVEDAGNA, STRA (VENEZIA)
“ADORNED/UNADORNED”, SKOTO GALLERY, NEW YORK
"CONTAINERS OF LIGHT”, ANDREA ART, TEXT CATALOG CECILIA
ANTONINI, VICENZA
INVITES, MUSEUM ARNHEM, NETHERLANDS
“MAFRIQUE” , SPAZIO MOROSO, MILAN
“ARABIAN WORLD FESTIVAL”, SAN SEVERINA, CORTONA
“WATER, THE MUSIC, SOUL”, AUDITORIUM SANTA
MARGHERITA, VENICE
“SAFIR”, PALAZZO DUCALE, URBINO
“KENUZ”, DOMUS ARTIS GALLERY, CURATED BY MILENA
GROSSO, NAPLES
2010
“ARABICITY”, ROSE ISSA PROJECTS AT BEIRUT EXHIBITION
CENTER, BEIRUT, LEBANON
“ARABICITY”, ROSE ISSA PROJECTS AT THE BLUECOAT ARTS
CENTRE, LIVERPOOL
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“THE TEMPLE OF ZEUS“, VALLE DEI TEMPLI, AGRIGENTO
“MASHRABIA“ CONTATTO ARTE AND STUDIO PROTECNO
ARCHITETTURA, FAENZA
“EL MUHAGER”, MEETING WITH FATHI HASSAN, FONDAZIONE
BALESTRA E STUDIO, FIORAVANTI, SORRIVOLI
“TASAHEEL”, L'IDIOMA ART CENTRE , ASCOLI PICENO
2011
“SUMMER SHOW”, SKOTO GALLERY, NEW YORK
“MIXED HANGING”, ROSE ISSA PROJECTS, LONDON
ROSE ISSA PROJECTS AT ABU DHABI ART
“SIGNS OF OUR TIMES”, ROSE ISSA PROJECTS,
LEIGHTON HOUSE MUSEUM, LONDON
“HARAM ALEIKUM, NOTIONS OF SHAME”, ROSE ISSA PROJECTS,
LONDON
“MEDIAMORFOSI 2.0”, SUD LAB, CURATED BY GABRIELE
PERRETTA, PORTICI (NAPLES)
“THE ART OF WRITING”, ART FORUM OF WIESBADEN, GERMANY
“TRASFORMATION”, SKOTO GALLERY, JUNE - JULY, NEW YORK
“ABU DHABI ART”, ROSE ISSA PROJECTS, DUBAI
2012
“RE-ORIENTATIONS II”, ROSE ISSA PROJECTS, LONDON
SARJAH BIENNIAL, DUBAI
“SUMMER EXHIBITIONS “ ROYAL ACADEMY, LONDON
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“THE SKIN I LIVE IN”, FEB/MARCH, PACK GALLERY, MILAN
“ONLY WORDS. GREAT ARTISTS OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE
20TH CENTURY”, PER MARI E MONTI GALLERY, CIVITANOVE
MARCHE
“FACES & VOICES”, MANCHESTER MUSEUM
2013
“RE- ORIENTATIONS II”, ROSE ISSA PROJECTS , LONDON
“THE SEVEN VALLEYS”, ROSE ISSA PROJECTS, LONDON
“EGYPTOLOGY”, BRITISH MUSEUM, CURATED BY VENETIA
PORTER
2014
“THE DEPTH OF HOPE”, CURATED BY CAITLIN DOHERTY,
VCUQATAR GALLERY, DOHA
“ASEMIC”, HALLEN VAN HET BELFORT, CURATED BY MICHEL
DEWILDE, CULTUURCENTRUM BRUGGE, BELGIUM
“BLACK AND GRAY”, SKOTO GALLERY, NEW YORK
“NEW GRAMMARS”, TRIBUTE TO FATHI HASSAN, ROCCA
MALATESTIANA, FANO.
“SACRED DROPS”, RASTATT, GERMANY.
“AD PERSONAM“, CONTEMPORARY ART FRANCESCA MONTI,
CIVITANOVE MARCHE
“ WHAT REMAINS”, ROSE ISSA PROJECTS, LONDON
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2015
“ MIGRATION OF SIGNS “ WILLIAMS MUSEUM ,
MASSACHUSETTS CURATED BY MAURITA POOLE.
"MARE MOTUS" ISLANDS EOILE 1950/2015, SICILY, LIPARI
CASTLE, CURATED BY LEA MATTARELLA AND LORENZO
ZICHICHI.
ETICO / ETICHAL, CULTURAL ASSOCIATION PLANA "AWARD"
MILAN EXPO, 2015
2016
AFRICAN ART AGAINST THE STATE, WILLIAMS MUSEUM ,
MASSACHUSETTS . U.S.A
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM, BRITISH MUSEUM,
SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART,
(WASHINGTON DC), FARJAM FOUNDATION (DUBAI),
FONDAZIONE FAUSTO RADICI (BERGAMO), FLASH ART MUSEUM
(TREVI), IBARJEELIFOUNDATIONI (SHARJAH,IUAE),
ISYMPHONIAIS.G.R (MILAN), WILLIAMS COLLEGE MUSEUM OF
ART, MASSACHUSETTS .
SALON FIRST PRIZE YOUNG EGYPTIAN ART, PAINTING, UNDER
35 YEARS ,1989.
FIRST TO PRESENT THE EGYPTIAN NUBIA ( AFRICA ), IN
VENICE BIENNAL , OPENED 1988.
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