Lawrie Shabibi is pleased to announce that Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim (b. 1962, Khor Fakkan, UAE) is presenting The Form (2024) and The Ghaf Tree (2024) at Frieze Sculpture 2024 in Regent’s Park, London. This is Lawrie Shabibi’s third participation in Frieze Sculpture, and follows the showing of Shaikha Al Mazrou’s Red Stack in the 2022 edition.
Rooted in the desert mountain landscape of Khor Fakkan, the motifs of Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim's abstract drawings and sculptures in The Form (2024) are evocative of ancient cave art, shaped like primitive tools, bones, figures, or parts of trees that appear to have been unearthed from some ancient den, rather than handcrafted.
In contrast, The Ghaf Tree (2024) highlights the significance of the Ghaf, a drought resistant tree that can survive in an arid desert, and is essential for the survival of other plant and animal species. It holds cultural significance in the UAE, symbolizing resilience, sustainability, and strength, embodying a deep-rooted connection to nature.
In his practice Ibrahim selects colours and patterns that harmonise with the work he is creating, infusing each piece with a childlike sense of wonder and a view of the world that brims with exuberance. Yet, within this playfulness, a deeper sense of contemplation and reflection emerges. Each artwork serves as a canvas for his interests in archaeology, psychology, and the reinterpretation of familiar objects. By doing so, the artist reinvents the way we perceive and engage with our surroundings. His art comes from both his personal experiences and the kind of innate memory found in our DNA, which he describes as a “primitive urge.”
