Nedim Kufi

{{Infobox artist

| name = Nedim Kufi

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| birth_date = 1966

| birth_place = Baghdad, Iraq

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| nationality = Iraqi

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| known_for = Painter, print-maker and graphic designer

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| movement = Contemporary art

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| website = [http://www.nedimkufi.com/index.html Official website for Nedim Kufi]

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Nedim Kufi (also known as Nadem al-Kufi), born 1962 in Baghdad), is an Iraqi-Dutch multi disciplinary visual artist. He is primarily known for conceptual art that explores themes such as war, political conflict, exile, loss, and historical memory. Much of his work contains autobiographical elements. He is also a graphic designer and print maker.{{Cite web | url=https://ruyafoundation.org/en/2014/11/nedim-kufi-on-memory-forgetting/ | title=Nedim Kufi on Memory, Forgetting and Naivete | date=3 November 2014 }}

Life and career

Kufi was born 1962 in Baghdad, Iraq and spent his early childhood there. He studied at the Bagdhad Institute of Fine Arts, graduating in 1985.Faruqi, S., "Art as a ‘Psychololgical Outlet› : Expatriation and The Work of Contemporary Iraqi Artists," [Essay], Meem Gallery, n.d., [http://www.contemporarypractices.net/artistessay/artpaspapsychololgicaloutlet.compressed.pdf Online:] He served in the Iraqi military during the Iran–Iraq War, and was deeply affected by the atrocities he witnessed.[http://www.barjeelartfoundation.org/artist/iraq/nedim-kufi/ Nadim Kufi biography, Barjeel Art Foundation], accessed 06-04-2018; Kufi, N., "Biography", [http://www.nedimkufi.com/bio.html Online:]

He left Iraq in 1990 and settled in the Netherlands in 1994 and studied graphic design there.[http://www.barjeelartfoundation.org/artist/iraq/nedim-kufi/ Nadim Kufi biography, Barjeel Art Foundation], accessed 06-04-2018; Kufi, N., "Biography", [http://www.nedimkufi.com/bio.html Online:] He now divides his time between the Netherlands and Cairo.Bocco R., Bozarslan H. and Sluglett P., Writing The Modern History Of Iraq: Historiographical And Political Challenges, World Scientific, 2012, p. 487

Since 2004, he has published the monthly Daftar, an e-publication that features succinct works by artists and writers.Naef, S., "Not Just for Art's Sake: Exhibiting Iraqi Art in the West after 2003," in: Bocco Riccardo, Bozarslan Hamit and Sluglett Peter (eds), Writing The Modern History Of Iraq: Historiographical And Political Challenges, World Scientific, 2012, p. 487Shabout, N.M., Dafatir, University of North Texas School of Visual Arts, 2007, p. 47

Work

As with many Iraqi artists now living in exile, Kufi's art explores themes such as war and its aftermath, political conflict, exile, loss, and historical memory. Much of his work contains autobiographical elements.[https://ruyafoundation.org/en/2014/11/nedim-kufi-on-memory-forgetting Ruya Foundation] He is a multi-disciplinary artist, working as a painter, graphic designer and print maker. He has had more than 20 solo exhibitions, and has been included in scores of group exhibitions that feature leading Iraqi artists of the post-independence period.

Select list of exhibitions

2003 Dafatir: Contemporary Iraqi Book Art curated by Nada Shabout, United States travelling exhibition (group) Bocco R., Bozarslan H. and Sluglett P., Writing The Modern History Of Iraq: Historiographical And Political Challenges, World Scientific, 2012, p. 489
2003 Garden Of Eden, The Phatory, New York, USA (Group Show)
2003 Earth and Ink, Gallery 108, Boston, USA (Solo){{cite news |title=Rebuilding the damage; From painful past, Iraqi artist creates fragile beauty |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/415318801.html?dids=415318801:415318801&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+29%2C+2003&author=Mary+Jo+Palumbo&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=Rebuilding+the+damage%3B+From+painful+past%2C+Iraqi+artist+creates+fragile+beauty&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629001130/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/415318801.html?dids=415318801:415318801&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+29,+2003&author=Mary+Jo+Palumbo&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=Rebuilding+the+damage%3B+From+painful+past,+Iraqi+artist+creates+fragile+beauty&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |work=Boston Herald |date=29 September 2003 |accessdate=15 February 2011}}
2006 Attar in Beirut, Espace SD Gallery, Beirut and Lebanon (Solo){{cite news |title=The alchemy of Nedim Kufi |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=4&article_id=22168#axzz1E2clVFpp |work=The Daily Star |date=14 February 2006 |accessdate=15 February 2011}}
2006 The Iraqi Equation, (group) Bocco R., Bozarslan H. and Sluglett P., Writing The Modern History Of Iraq: Historiographical And Political Challenges, World Scientific, 2012, p. 486
2007 Rasheed street | Mediamatic | ELHEMA| Amsterdam | Netherlands (Group){{cite news |title=El Hema Koopavond |url=http://www.wereldjournalisten.nl/artikel/2007/10/02/el_hema_koopavond/ |work=Wereldjournalisten |date=2 October 2007 |accessdate=15 February 2011}}
2008 Soap & Silence, La Fountain Gallery, Bahrain (Solo){{cite news |title=Artist relives his pain in paintings |url=http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=230934 |work=Gulf Daily News |date=8 October 2008 |accessdate=15 February 2011}}
2008–2009 Iraqi Artists in Exile, [With 14 other notable Iraqi artists including Shakir Hasan Al Said, Dia Azzawi] and Hanaa Malallah; curated by Alan Schnitger, Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Houston, 1 November 2008 – 1 February 2009Bocco, R., Hamit, B. and Sluglett, P. (eds), Writing The Modern History Of Iraq: Historiographical And Political Challenges, World Scientific, 2012 p. 491

Select list of artworks

Horse, manipulated digital print, 2008Eigner, S., Art of the Middle East: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World and Iran, Merrill, 2010, p. 173
Empty, manipulated digital print, 2008Eigner, S., Art of the Middle East: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World and Iran, Merrill, 2010, p. 173