Ila

1 December 2011, Falun, Sweden -- Dalarnas museum is pleased to present Modhir Ahmed: 35 Years Retrospective, the first large-scale multi-medium retrospective exhibition to explore the work of the critically acclaimed Iraq-Swedish artist. Defying classification, Modhir Ahmed (1956) - the printmaker, painter, and creator of installations was hailed for his work in the early 90s to date - is the subject of an upcoming retrospective opening at Dalarnas museum from January 21 through May 9, 2012, organized by curator Anne Seppänen.

This exhibition incorporating over 100 works will offer an extensive survey of unseen and major works that have developed 'icon status' covering the 35 years of his artistic journey, starting as a student in Iraq in the 70s; his early arrival at abstraction in Poland during the 80s; and the range of his media as a professional in Sweden from the 90s when he first gained international recognition for representing Iraq and Sweden with flying colours in international graphic competitions.

Occupying three rooms of the museum in chronological order, Modhir Ahmed: 35 Years Retrospective presents an unparalleled opportunity to study the artist's elaborate involvement with printmaking which led to a refined mastery of mixed media paintings - original works on paper - further translated in three-dimension installations and sculptures. The exhibition will also explore the artist’s striking self-portraits created in the 80s, which points to the significance of figuration throughout the artist’s works, and the aesthetic practices that guided his decisions and his oeuvre as a whole. 

Unfolding three and a half decades of the artist's works on canvas and paper that have not been seen in Sweden in the years since they were made; early academic works that have never been seen at all; and rare sculptures of ordinary household objects such as "The Walking Stick" and "The Shovel" will also be shown for the first time. An exceptional number of Modhir Ahmed's award-winning artworks and installation will be on display with the artist's book, "Vecka nr.II, 2007" based on excerpts from Galleriet by Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer, 2011 Nobel Prize for Literature.

From Scandinavia to Poland and from Egypt to France and China - for Iraq, Sweden and the Arab world, his prints, paintings and drawings has been cited with numerous awards. His fine art pieces hang in museums in Europe and in private collections of art connoisseurs in Europe, the Middle East and the United States. Modhir Ahmed: 35 Years Retrospective is just a glimpse of the artist’s collective experience and his long resolutely focused career.

Opening reception (streaming ”live” at livestream.com/modhirahmed )  free and open to the public will take place on Saturday, January 21, from 2-5 pm (+1GMT)

Media Preview

Members of the press are invited to attend a media preview of the exhibition from 2 pm, Thursday, January 19.

Media will be taken on a tour of the exhibition by the curator.