Walid Siti

Walid Siti /Biography

Walid Siti was born in 1954, in the city of Duhok, in Iraqi-Kurdistan. After graduating in 1976 from the Institute of Fine arts in Baghdad, Siti left Iraqto continue his arts education in Ljubljana, Slovenia before seeking political asylum in 1984 in the United Kingdom where he still works and lives. Formerly trained in printmaking, Siti works extensively in a variety of mediums including, installation, painting and work on paper.

His work developed in response to the ongoing upheaval of conflict and processes of transformation prevalent in the Middle East. Siti takes inspiration from the cultural heritage of his native land that is crisscrossed with militarized borders and waves of migration. Mountains, stones and historic cultural elements feature prominently in his work, symbolising collective strength, sanctuary and the power of monolithic forces. Siti’s work increasingly considers the tensions between collective identity, interdependence and its constraints on the individualthrough considerations of heritage, tradition, homes, borders, mobility and migration. These themes have had an imprint on his outlook, and contributed to both his art and life.

Solo Exhibitions include, 2014 Moiz Zilberman Gallery, Istanbul, “New Babylon” . Edge of Arabia, London, “Reconstruction”. Taymour Grahne Gallery, New York, NY “Parallel Realms”. XVA, Dubai, ‘ Rite of Passage’. Taymour Grahne Gallery, New York. XVA Gallery, Dubai. 2013 Amed Art Gallery, Diyarbakir, Turkey, 2011 Rose Issa Projects, London. XVA Gallery, Dubai. Merg Gallery, Erbil. 2010 Sardam Gallery, Sulaimania. Duhok Gallery, Duhok. 2009 XVA Gallery, Dubai. 2008 Leighton House Museum, London. 2004 Salman’s Gallery, Duhok. 2002 Arcola Gallery, London. 2001 Oriel Canfas, Cardiff. 1998 Diorama Gallery, London. 1996 Leighton House Museum, London. 1992 Midland Arts Centre, Birmingham.

Selected Group Exhibitionsinclude,

 2015, ‘Written Cities’part of the Triennial of Bruges, 2014 THE SEVEN VALLEYS, Rose Issa Project, London. Hajj: Journey to Mecca, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar, The Paper Show, XVA, Dubai, 3013. “Systems and Patterns”, International Centre of Graphics, Ljubljana, Slovenia, ‘Echoes from Periphery’ Palazzo Granfei-Nervegna-Brindisi, Italy, 54th International Art Exhibition, Pavilion of Iraq, Venice. 2012, “Hajj exhibition” the British Museum, London. 2011, 54th Venice International Art Biennale, Pavilion of Iraq. Take care of yourself, Amed Art Gallery, Diyarbakir, Turkey. 2010, “Taswir – Pictorial Mappings of Modernity and Islam, Martin-Gropius-Bau Museum, Berlin. 2009 PlanetK, The 53rd International Art Exhibition, Venice. “Iraq’s Past Speaks to the Present” at the British Museum, London. “Modernism and Iraq”, Miriam & Ira Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University in the City of New York, USA. 2008 Permanent art collection, Imperial War Museum, London. Occupied Space 08, Art for Palestine, Qattan Foundation, London. Word into Art, Dubai International Finance Centre. “Space Now”, The Triangle, London. Re-Orientations, European Parliament, Brussels. 2004 Contemporary Arts Society, London. The Museum Hall, Sulaymania. 2003 The National Museum in Cracow, Poland. 2002 The Historical Museum of The City of Vienna. 10th Asian Art Biennale, Dahka, Bangladesh. 2001 International Art Biennale Dialogue, St. Petersburg, Russia. 5th Sharjah International Arts Biennal, Sharjah, UAE.

Public Collection include, The Metropolitan Museum, New York. The British Museum, London. The Imperial War Museum, London. The National Gallery of Amman, Jordan. The World Bank, Washington, DC. Victoria & Albert Museum, London. The Iraq Memory Foundation. Art for American Embassy program, USA. Barjeel Art Foundation, UAE.