About

Moataz was born in Baghdad in 1986. He moved to Belgium in 2009 and is based in Antwerp. He studied painting at the royal academy of fine arts in Antwerp . 

Liberating the canvas from the constraints of its supporting role, the artist pushes parameters of what determines a painting. Moving away from ‘the traditional rectangular painting’, Alqaissy’s work introduces a shift in visual hierarchy, liberating the canvas from its frame and turning an historically inferior element, into the dominant, primary part of the work.

Alqaissy’s works are characterised by layers of canvas (linen, cotton but also sailcloth), glued on top of each other, or nailed ‘casually’ on the wall. His works incorporate assorted house-hold materials (walls or wood paints and other wall treating, fillers, wires, tie-wraps…) or sometimes even recycled patches of older work. In addition, the artist experiments with mounting canvas on various surfaces (without losing its dominant presence) such as PU-foam. While elevating the role of these ‘supporting materials’, he forms and sculpts his paintings in a way that they convey a rather raw or violent feeling.

Moataz Alqaissy finds inspiration in many domains, from the history of art, to ancient civilizations , antiquities, and childhood/early adulthood memories in Baghdad, which it has been shaped by severe violent political changes. Being born and raised in Iraq, and currently living in Belgium, Alqaissy is balancing between two cultures. Since he left his homeland, the artist continuously investigates the relationship between ‘place’ and ‘oneself’, how space influences the body or how it can be incorporated in his work. This can sometimes be taken literally when patterns of the wall and floor of his studio find their way on to the canvas by means of using crayon or a paint roller – forming a dialogue between the space where the work is created, and the ‘skin like’ organic look of the canvas. Although Alqaissy’s approach seems rather formal; each work has its own meaning and story. It determines the shape, colour palette and idea behind each piece. However, the artist refuses to manifest himself as explicitly activist and considers his paintings as a mere extension of himself and his background. By detaching the canvas from its classical function, his paintings manifest as new forms, subtly expressing human emotions, while creating new spatial experience.

“My paintings are in constant dialogue with the history of painting from the  past til the present. Liberating the painting from the wooden frame gives the canvas a bigger role in the visual hierarchy of the painting. The works are inspired by the memory of my upbringing from the past years in my homeland Iraq, which includes very political and historical references that shaped my life. I try to create a connection between the viewer and the subject matter, through my work by putting them in a direct confrontation with the elements of the painting undisguised. Exposed and clear, organic and changeable sometimes perishable like any living being”.

       

            Text by :Lien Crap 

             Geukens&De Vil 

                            

 

 

Master Visual Arts 

2020-2021

Specialisation Fine Arts. Painting, Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp

 

Bachelor Visual Arts

 2017-2020

Specialisation Fine Arts. Painting, Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp

 

Visual Art 

2008 

Painting.

College of art | Baghdad University

 

 

Prizes and grants 

 Marianne van Vyve prize 

2021

Royal academy of fine arts Antwerp 

 

 

Art residencies 

Tenjinyama Art residency Sapporo , Japan 

15/10-30/11 2022 

 

 

Gallery 

Geukens & De Vil 

contemporary art gallery 

Leopoldplaats 12 

 

 

Solo exhibitions

 “Just a little pinprick”

03/09-01/10/2022

Solo exhibition at Gallery Geukens en De Vil Leopoldplaats 12 Antwerp

 

 

 To Be Antwerp

26/11/2021

Solo exhibition at Gallery Geukens en De Vil Leopoldplaats 12 

Antwerp

 

 

Group exhibition 

 Square-shaped Heart.

8/11-24/11

Duo exhibition with Inge Trienekens 

at CAI03 gallery, Sapporo , Japan 

 

 

 Larey G’s Living Room 

15/9-15/10

Group show invited by Coppejans Gallery Antwerp 

 

 

 A Wild Thing 

21/4/2022

a trio show featuring Alessio Capone Max Beets

And Moataz Alqaissy 

 

Sur Un Parquet Bien Ciré

24/2/2021 

Group exhibition at Martin van Blerk gallery, Mechelsesteenweg 18 Antwerp

 

 

 FAAR

29/10/2021

Group expo./open studio in Hertstraat Deurne, Antwerp

 

 

Terrain Vague 

04/09/2021 

Group expo. At Plein magazijn Antwerp 

 

 

Encore

01/07/2021 

Master expo. Huidevettersstraat 39, 2000 Antwerp Group exhibition curated by Spank Moons 

 

 

Master Expo 2021 

24-27/06/2021 

Lange Zaal, Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp 

 

 

 

PICTU>RE>IMAGE

05/2021

Group exhibition curated by Spank Moons 

Wintertuin Royal academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. 

 

 

 IN OUR FACE

October to November/2020

Artists initiative. 

 Bar Leon, a series of exhibitions around the city of Antwerp. 

 

 

 Tangier group exhibition

03/2020 

Participation in a book group edition number 2 at Tick Tack Gallery Antwerpen 

 

 10×1

12/2019 

Group exhibition at the Royal academy of fine arts Antwerp