Born in Giza, Egypt, in 1961, Hazem Taha Hussein is an associate professor of visual communication design in the Faculty of Applied Arts at Helwan University, Cairo; chairman of the advertising department at Mansoura City, Egypt; and head of the department of art and design at the Royal University for Women, Riffa, Bahrain. He studied in Egypt and Germany, earning a M.A. from Helwan University in graphics and design, and a Ph.D. from the University of Wuppertal in design philosophy and communications theories. Curator Karin Adrian von Roques has said of his work, “His regular confrontation with strangers enhanced his interest in questions of identity and led to the creation of his characteristic effort to combine oriental and occidental art as he seeks to penetrate western and eastern ideas and concepts.”
Hussein’s work has been shown in solo exhibitions throughout the Middle East and Europe since 1988. His recent shows include The Mirage II (2013), Al Masar Gallery, Cairo; and The Concept (2010), a retrospective, Albareh Art Gallery, Manama, Bahrain. His group exhibitions include Land of the Hyperreal: Contemporary Art from Egypt (2010), Memorial Jose, Revolution Square, Havana; What’s Happening Now? (2010), Casa Arabe, Madrid, previously at Art Palace, Ministry of Culture, Cairo, in 2008; Triogie Méditerranéenne: From Athens to Marseille to Cairo (2008), Palais des Arts, Marseille; The Present Out of the Past Millennia – Contemporary Art of Egypt (2007), Kunstmuseum Bonn, Germany; Occidentalism: The West on the Eye of Egyptian Artist (2007), Pension Suisse, Cairo; The Baggage (2007), Alexandria Atelier, Egypt; Father and Son, Mohamed Taha Hussein and Hazem Taha Hussein (2006), French Centre, Alexandria, Egypt; Egyptian Artists (2005), 21 Art Gallery, Dubai, U.A.E.; Egyptian Art (2001), Kunsthalle, Stockholm; 2001 Al-Nitaq Festival, Cairo; 1996 Market Fair, Noteln, Germany; and 8 Egyptian Artists (1990), Kunsthalle Augsburg, Germany. Hussein has received fellowships from the Christoph Merian Stiftung, Basel Switzerland (1988); Egyptian Ministry of Culture (2003-2005); and The German Academic Exchange Series (DAAD) (1990-1994).
