Wael Sabour
Artist Statement
Nature in its abstract content has been a rich source of inspiration in my work. Trying to extract the essence of nature rather than to represent its superficial physical appearances, I have produced many works in which I intended to unveil what is hidden beyond the visual. When I review these works they recall instantly many dormant feelings from my memory. Feelings that are associated in my subconscious with certain places and certain people.
The dream of people of all races, religions and origins coexisting peacefully is another area of my interest. I found this dream comes true in some places on of which is Alexandria, the historical Egyptian city on the cost of the Mediterranean Sea. Alexandria is a multinational city where Greek, Italians, French and Egyptians have lived together in a perfect harmony with each other and with their city for several decades. Diversity is the main characteristic of Alexandria and i think that the usual scene of the traditional fishing boats sailing in the Mediterranean Sea offers a wonderful metaphor for such relationship.
Concerning my work processes they are very versatile . Generally I'm pretty much in favor of liberal technical practices and I personally think that the technical borders among different disciplines of art (Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Installation,....etc.) are fading day after day. I believe that what really matters is the image as a visual cultural product not the techniques by which it has been produced.
Born: Cairo, Egypt , 1971.
Education
Ph.D degree in philosophy of Art, Elmenia University, Egypt, 2004
M.F.A. degree, Helwan University, Egypt, 1998
B.S.A Elmenia University, Egypt, 1993
Diploma of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, Elmenia University, Egypt, 1993
Selected National Exhibitions
2009 Bridges Over the Mediterranean and the Baltic, Greece
Meeting the Other: American and Egyptian Prints, USA/Egypt
2008 Ithaca Art Bar Exhibition, New York, USA
2007 The Egyptian Invitational Exhibition, Spain
Varna International Print Biennial, Portugal
Sanbao Invitational Print Exhibition (30 selected artists from all over the world), China
The Egyptian Art Exhibition in conjunction with the Egyptian cultural week in Algeria
2006 The 7th Chamalieres Mini-Print Triennial, France
The 5th Egyptian International Print Triennial, Egypt
The Iranian International Painting Biennial, Iran
2005 The 23rd Alexandria Biennial of Mediterranean Countries, Egypt
Primo Premio, Salon Dei Giovani, Rome, Italy
Verna International Print Biennial, Portugal
Ljubljana International Print Biennial, Slovenia
The International Invitational Print Exhibition, Taiwan
Tokyo International Mini Print Triennial, Japan
Kochi International Print Triennial, Japan
2004 Triennial 100 Cities- Prints from the Four Quarters of the Globe, Ponzan, Poland
The 17th International Youth Salon, Egypt
Etching Versus Digital Exhibition, Municipal Museum in Iowicz, Poland
2003 The Egyptian Invitational Print Exhibition, USA
Cracaw International Print Triennial, Poland
Triennial Krakau, Oldenburg, Germany
Chamalieres Mini-Print Triennial, France
2002 The Global Matrix- International Print Exhibition, USA
2000 Floren International Mini-Print Exhibition, Romania
1999 The Third Egyptian International Print Triennial, Cairo, Egypt
1998 Tokyo International Mini Print Triennial, Tokyo, Japan
1997 The International Printmaking Cooperatives Symposium, Alberta, Canada
1995 The 18th International Independent Exhibition, Kanagawa, Japan
Selected Museum Collections
Museum of Nebraskan Modern Art (MONA), Nebraska, USA
Museum of Modern Art, Cairo, Egypt
Museum of Graphic Art, Cairo, Egypt
Tosa Washi Museum of Printmaking Art, Kochi, Japan
Tama Art University Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Chung-Shan National Gallery, Taiwan
Alexandria Bibliotheca, Alexandria, Egypt