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Bassem Yousri
Artist Statement
In All the Important Issues I try to question the origins of the Egyptian
identity that has been shaped almost 7000 years ago and has evolved to become a
hazy face with a confused mind. Moreover, I try to question the failure of the
Egyptian intellects in addressing the situation as well as question my personal
role as an artist within that context.
Influences ranging from ancient Egyptian murals and pre-dynastic Egyptian
figurines are mixed with influences from contemporary mass culture like
television, Internet (YouTube), and cartoons reflecting on the depth of the
Egyptian culture as well as its modern aspects. The composition reflects the
complexity and instability of the current political situation in Egypt and its
crisis of identity from my own point of view. Cairo as I know it is a city full
of opposites and contradictions; 2000 years old neighborhoods are adjacent to
high rises, poor ones are adjacent to the fanciest hotels, and decadent cars
from the 50s run side by side with the most recent Mercedes. Amidst it all, the
youth’s quest for identity is straddled between two extreme opposites: religious
fundamentalism and cultural westernization.
Curriculum Vitae
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Egyptian artist born in Algeria 1980 and
currently living in Philadelphia.
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MFA in painting - Tyler School of Art, Temple
University, 2009.
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BFA in painting - School of Fine Arts, Helwan
University, Cairo, Egypt, 2003.
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Data analyst at Temple University Graduate
School (the dean's office), fall 2008-spring 2009.
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Teaching assistant at Tyler School of Art,
spring 2008.
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Internship at Diane von Furstenberg
fashion house - New York, during which produced print designs that
were used for the fall 07 collection, June - September 2006.
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Textile designer for Mobaco Cottons
Company, Cairo, Egypt, December 2003 - December 2005.
Solo shows
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MFA thesis exhibition - Tyler School of Art, March
2009.
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Solo exhibition titled The
Yousri Scrolls at the Knapp Gallery, Philadelphia, September 2008.
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Solo exhibition titled New
Lands, The Leonard Pearlstein art gallery - Drexel University,
Philadelphia, August 2006.
Collective shows
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Participated in the following shows in
Philadelphia: Rag and Bone at Pageant Gallery, December 2008; Famous World's
Best at 5th St Gallery - Philadelphia, October 2008; Twofold at Mass Art -
Boston, February 2008; The 13th annual Annex exhibition at Drexel University -
Philadelphia, 2006.
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Participated in the following shows in Cairo:
Collective exhibition at Fonoon Art Gallery – 2005; Collective exhibition at
the French Cultural Centre in Heliopolis, 2003; The 16th Salon of Youth, 2004;
collective exhibition at 5+5 Art Gallery, 2003; The National Exhibition, 2003;
exhibition with the two artists Eveline Ashamallah and Salam Yousri at Salama
Art Gallery, 2002; the 4th Salon of Small Pieces, 2000; The 12th Salon of
Youth, 2000.
Scholarships and awards
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Externship offered by the Graduate School - Temple
University, fall 2008 - spring 2009.
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Teaching assistantship at Tyler School of Art -
spring 2008.
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Awarded the Fulbright Commission's Arts Grant,
January 2006 - October 2006.
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2nd award at Helwan University art
competition,2002
Extra-Curricular Activities
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Performer, editor, and director of the short video
series All The Important Issues, 2008.
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Editor and director of the documentary Keep
Recording (40 min), 2008.
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Production designer of Hekayet El Hekaya (the
Story of the Story) short film, Al Tamye theatre Company in cooperation with
Semat for Production and Distribution, Egypt, 2005.
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Member of Al Tamye Theatre Company, Cairo, Egypt,
since 2003 - present time.
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Still image from the video titled All the Important Issues
2009
video
Detail from All the Important Issues installation
2009
Indian ink on wall
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