We are returning to the 2019 edition of the Abu Dhabi Art Fair with a solo presentation of works by Mohamed Melehi (b. 1936) - a cornerstone of postcolonial Moroccan art and of modernism in the Global South.
The booth presents a survey of works from the 1960’s to present day with a focus on his “wave” paintings and sculptures. The exhibition highlights Melehi's unique and diverse practice which has defined him as a true ‘visual activist’ of his time. Melehi’s cutting-edge paintings are a reflection of his early encounters with the cosmopolitan post-war art scenes of mid-century’s Rome and New York city. Upon return to Morocco in the mid-1960s, Melehi becomes leading member of the Casablanca Art School which embraced an abstract artistic vocabulary, reformulating historical avant-gardes. Within this narrative, his very own practice becomes a symbol of trans-Arab modernism. By archiving his contribution as an art professor, graphic designer and mural painter, this solo show celebrates Melehi’s acclaimed contribution to the history of postcolonial and global art.
