I’m Dutch/Egyptian, retired, but I was a businessman, teacher, inventor and I love challenging tasks. I have a Bachelor degree in Economy from Cairo, Egypt and Bachelor degree in Education from Amsterdam, Netherlands. I never studied art or took any courses, I’m completely self-taught. My art was born from the pain my family and I went through due to my daughter’s chronic illness, and it is inspired by her.
In 1999, my daughter was born with one of the most difficult diseases, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). It’s a rare chronic disease where the skin is very weak. Blisters and open wounds are formed by the slightest touch. She is in constant pain, all the time. There is no cure for it, and we’ve been struggling and fighting this disease every day since. It was a constant struggle to keep going and to reach a safe shore. My art was born a year later because of the enormous emotional and mental turmoil my wife, my kids and I went through dealing with this disease. I had never drawn or painted before, but somehow on her first birthday, I started making these strange drawings. She has become the centre of our attention and life ever since.
You will find that my paintings are very random but controlled. In every painting, I try to express myself to show the viewer what I have created and what I mean. However, most people who see my paintings, also see something different in them. My art can be seen from many different perspectives, but they all represent finding beauty within chaos and despair.
I’m always thinking about global problems we all face and what I can do to help. You will sometimes find that reflected in my work as some of my paintings focus on these problems. For example, climate change, war, refugees, the current pandemic, injustices, racism, poverty, and human rights. Also modern social problems like loneliness, depression, isolation, and fake news. I hope my work can raise awareness and understanding by moving people to feel each other’s problems.
Publications and Exhibitions:
- Book: -2022, Important World Artists Volume 5, by World Wide Art Books
- Book: -2022, Animal Worlds of Art, by Enter into Art
- Book: -2021, Contemporary Art of Excellence Volume IV, by Global Art Agency (GAA)
- Book: -2021, Limitless Nature, by Bruxelles Art Vue
- Book: -2021, Volumes of Darkness, by Bruxelles Art Vue
- Magazine: -2020 – World Wide Art Magazine Issue 4
- Magazine: – 2020 – OUTSiDER Art Magazine Issue 3
- Magazine: – 2020 – CreativPaper
- Magazine: – 2020 – Corriere dell’ Arte
- Magazine: – 2020 – Artist Portfolio Magazine
- Prize: -2021, Power of Creativity Art Prize, Contemporary Art Curator Magazine
- Prize: -2020, Finalist to publish in World Wide Art Magazine, Artavita
- Prize: -2020, Finalist to Exhibit in Art San Diego, Artavita
- Prize: -2020, Finalist to publish in Outsider Art Magazine Issue 3, Outsider Art Magazine
- Art Fair: -2021, Artexpo New York, New York City, USA
- Art Fair: -2020, Shanghai International Art Fair, Shanghai, China
- Gallery: -2021, Emerging Scence, Dubai, UAE
- Gallery: -2020, MADS Milano, Milan, Italy
- Online Exhibition: -2020/2021, Artavita
- Online Exhibition: -2020/2021, Art Upclose, represented by Artifact Gallery
- Online Exhibition: -2020/2021, Artsy, represented by Artifact Gallery
- Online Exhibition: -2020, Corriere dell’ Arte
- Catalogue: – 2020 – MADS Milano Gallery, International Contemporary Exhibition“20.20”