Ahmed Al-Bahrani

1965                Born in Babylon, Iraq
1988                Diploma, Fine Arts Institute, Baghdad
1992-94          Taught Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts, Baghdad
                        Founder of Mimar Gallery with Architect Hazem Abu Naba′a, Qatar

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2010  April              (LTMH) Gallery  NEW YORK,Beyond The War: Contemporary Iraqi Artists of the Diaspora
                                                                       
2010  March            Art Sawa.  Gallery, Dubai, MY HOMELAND, Contemporary Artists from Iraq
2010  February        Albareh Art Gallery, Bahrain, A Chair and Painting, artists

2009  January          Art Sawa Gallery, Dubai, Contemporary Artists from Iraq

2008  March           Albareh Art Gallery, Bahrain, Solo Exhibitions

2006 May               Dar Al Fanoun, Kuwait, Solo Exhibition
2006 March            Albareh Art Gallery, Bahrain, Solo Exhibition
2006 January          4 Walls Gallery,  Amman, Jordan, Solo Exhibition

2004                     Green Art, Dubai, Solo Exhibition

2003                     Green Art, Dubai, Contemporary Artists from Iraq

2002                     Bissan Gallery, in association with the French Cultural Centre, Qatar
2002                     Al-Bida Gallery, in association with the National Council for
                                    Culture, Art and Heritage, Qatar, Solo Exhibition

2001                     Al Fardan Gardens, sponsored by Al-Fardan Group, Qatar

2000                     French Ambassaor′s residence, Qatar, Solo Exhibition

1999                     French Cultural Centre, San′a

1998                     Al-Afif Gallery, San′a, Contemporary Artists from Iraq

Al-Bahrani’s work has departed from the traditional scope of structure present in sculpture to attain a minimalistic quality that is characterised by both clarity and simplicity. His individualistic approach has resulted in creating a sense of flexibility and movement to an otherwise heavy and rigid material. Although known as a sculptor, etching has become integral to Al-Bahrani’s practice. His bold forms dramatically isolated against empty background achieve a startling new sense of formal abstraction.

“Babylon, with her legends and holy books, was ever my support during my exile. My ancient passion was broken when I decided to leave for exile far from the epic of Gilgamesh to continue my epic in a vast earth - a vast desert - the paths of which none but one exiled from his own land knows. I carried Babylon with me in my belongings and my history, but I continued to be delighted by Ashtar’s weeping for Tamuz. I bore the music of my injured city and the pain of its inhabitants in my veins while searching for a new location upon which to build my ancient history. For years I travelled from one exile to another and remembered Iraq and its epic chant. There is nowhere more beautiful than its deserts, its forbidden fruits, its sad and weary dreams. Now, today, I am concocting a new passion purified of the past - a ferrous passion full of emotion, love and peace.

I continuously feel that there is someone waiting for me after all these decades who will understand me through my humanistic output and will understand my Babylonian concerns and the grief of Ashtar at the death of Tamuz. In some new language which resembles me, I am the Neo-Babylonian and the childhood which loved the Euphrates which inspired the ″rest of my works.”

Ahmed al Bahrani