Mathaf Talk: Asmaa al-Issa on ‘palm navigation’ .

Moderated by Lina Ramadan
DATE: 20 MAY 2020
TIME: 09:00PM-10:00PM

ornamentations series 2, 2019. Wood embroidery hoop, washi paper, graphite, gold thread, glass beads. 15cm diameter

Artist Asmaa al-Issa speaks about her project ‘palm navigation’. The talk explores al-Issa’s artistic and research and practice that is centered on the notion of patterns within spiritual and cultural experiences. Sharing a selection of sculptures, installations and photographs, al-Issa highlights the sources of inspiration of: visiting hundun's territory (2017), land of many rivers (burlap) (2019) and ornamentations (2019)  

Portrait photo is by Reza Rezai

Asmaa al-Issa (b.1991, Baghdad) holds a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary studies from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, CA (2017), and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Studies from the University of Calgary, CA (2013). In 2018, she received a teaching fellowship at VCUArts, Qatar where she was also an artist in residence. Al-issa’s work engages her lived experiences with the land, materials, and people around her. She continually builds on her knowledge of materials, traditions, philosophies, theories, and histories of the Middle East, while developing her practice as an artist and educator. Al-Issa is currently based in Calgary, CA.