Mazen Al Ashkar
I use mixed media to create interactive objects, images, videos, and installations. I play with words as well as musical and nonmusical forms of sounds. I’ve been interested in looking at the functions given to natural and constructed elements in relation to metaphysical narratives such as idealism and materialism – tracing little threads that connect the imagined idea with a tangible reality, looking at the incomplete as a threshold to explore the potential of communication.
Graduated from Master Artistic Research at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague in 2021 and from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus University in 2013. Exhibited in Damascus, Sharjah, Dubai, Amsterdam, Brussels, Amman, The Hague and Utrecht.
Exhibition History
2023
– “Springboard Art Fair", Utrecht, The Netherlands.
– “Turning Notes", Madé van Krimpen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2022
– “The Ways of Water”, Melkweg Expo, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
– “A Highway in the Bunker”, EXBUNKER, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
2021
– “Graduation Show 2021”, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, The Netherlands.
– “Sun Kissed // Fog Off”, Master Artistic Research at Quartair, The Hague, The Netherlands.
2020
– “Actuele Kunst In De Oude Bieb”, Utrecht Down Under, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
– “See-Saw”, Just Shout #4, atelierroute Utrecht at 'de Kersenboomgaard' community,
studio number 12, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
– “See-Saw”, Just Shout #3, Galerie 21, Vorwerkstift, Hamburg, Germany.
– “The Ongoing Conversation”, Master Artistic Research at 1646, The Hague, The Netherlands.
– "A Simple Fizz" Master Artistic Research at Quartair, The Hague, The Netherlands.
2019
– "Ma'rad", 3&55 Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
– “Qala 0.8900”, Samt, Darat Al Funun, Amman, Jordan.
– “The Breadth of 104.5°”, Kaaistudio’s and Moussem Nomadic Arts Center, Moussem Cities: Damascus, Brussels, Belgium.
2018
– "Window", Galerie De Vijf Ramen, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
– “Mission Nose Out”, Beautiful Distress, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
– “Give Us The Museum”, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
– “Sawt (2a): Qala 0.8900”, Samt, Grey Noise, Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai, UAE.
2017
– Samt “On Being Vertical Against Your Horizon”, www.samt.co.
2016
– Sharjah Art Foundation, “Vantage Point Sharjah 4” Sharjah, UAE.
2012
– “The Youth Forum at Damascus Historical Castle", The Ministry of Culture and Arts, Damascus, Syria.
– “Graduation 2012”, The Faculty of Fine Arts, Swaida, Syria.
Residencies
– AMARRE, residencies for artists in exile, Moussem Nomadic Arts Center, Brussels, Belgium, June 2018.
– Artist in residence, KunstFaam, Schiermonnikoog, The Netherlands, March 2017.