Expression Unbound: Contemporary Art in the Middle East

About

Expression Unbound: Contemporary Art from the Middle East is a veneration of Middle Eastern art as a universal language, speaking of hope, change, and the human condition. In the heart of London, twelve contemporary artists come together to eclipse cultural preconceptions and narrate their individual life experiences, often impacted by tumult experienced within turbulent geographic region. Their paintings and sculptures showcase these unheard perspectives, with each piece inviting the viewer to contemplate their authentic stories, as well as the paradoxical beauty produced by generational struggle. 

When observed in conjunction, these artists present a glimpse of the Middle East’s social restriction and internal suffering that are often overlooked by the Western lens. Grappling with these global cultural barriers, they attempt to construct a diverse and holistic insight into the Middle East, projecting their introspective voices throughout the international artistic landscape.

Although they contrast each other visually, the artworks are thematically bound by their close engagement with human emotion. They narrate the cathartic nature of human experience within an unstable political climate. Additionally, rejecting the politicised perceived identity of the Middle East, they invite the viewers to discover the rich and soulful nature of this region’s culture.