Taher Jaoui
b. 1978, Tunisia

Creating captivating and labor-intensive work with an idea of continuing the legacy of abstract expressionism movement from the 50s and 60s, Taher Jaoui's paintings are rich assemblages of layered forms, vibrant colors, expressive gestures, and mathematics signs and formulas. Applied on canvas through a dynamic interaction, a physical back and forth dialogue in which perspective and orientation continuously change until all the elements are balanced right, these opulent creations are the artist's personal way of expressing himself.

Through a series of spontaneous movements, directly inspired by the way canvas responds to layers of paint and gestures applied to it, Jaoui compares his work to a dance routine with a familiar partner. And while impulsive and unconstrained in its core, the familiarity with materials is essential for the creative process that strongly depends on the ability to respond quickly and foresee the way the elements will work together. Layering pastels, oils, and acrylics, the artist accents the richness of his work by constructing a raw texture which directly captures the physical energy put into each piece. Serving as a channel to convey his thoughts, emotions, and visions, the artistic practice is Jaoui's source of confidence and peace, while the finished work becomes a documentation of the process of achieving those feelings.

Without any formal art education, his artistic practice is influenced by African primitive art, graffiti, glitch art, COBRA movement as well as the philosophy and attitude of post-war abstract expressionism. Varying from simple forms and patterns over familiar shapes that reminiscent of abstracted skulls, all the way to chalkboard-like scribble sections, the canvas surface becomes the workspace through which the artist exercises his ways of expression.

Credentials

Multiple international solo exhibitions
Multiple art fairs participant including Miami Art Fair and Art Jakarta
Esteemed private collections
Works on commission

Artist Statement

I translate impulses of the moment in an action with material. I work on establishing a subconscious dialogue between the composition and my feeling of the present moment. I add elements (colours, shapes or piece of paper) on the support only when I feel emotionally connected in the moment.

Education

2007 Paris - Sorbonne University

Solo Exhibitions

2022 Maune Contemporary, Atalanta, USA
2022 Corridor Contemporary, Philadelphia, USA
2022 Jason shin Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2021 Space 776 + Uncommon Beauty Gallery, New York, USA
2020 Srisasanti Syndicate, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2020 Leonard Gallery, Uncommon Beauty Gallery, New York, USA
2019 Galerie Kremers, Berlin, Germany
2019 Graham Modern and Contemporary Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2019 Jinsan Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2018 Ghaya Gallery, Tunis, Tunisia
2017 Galerie la Rotonde Stalingrad, Paris, France
2016 ‘Masques Simulacres’, Musk & Amber Gallery, Tunis, Tunisia
2015 ‘Métamorphoses’ Collage Solo Show, Gallerie les Insolites, Tangier, Morocco
2015 ‘Simulacrum Collage Solo Collages’, Atelier Milana Smokvine, Rijeka, Croatia
2014 ‘Cause & Effect’, BetaHaus, Berlin, Germany

Group Exhibition

2020 Duo Show with Mikhailo Deyak, Mandarin Maison, Kiev, Ukraine
2019 Duo Show with George Morton Clark, Opera Gallery, Hong Kong, China
2019 'An Atlantic Bridge BERLIN - USA', Galerie Kremers, Berlin, Germany
2019 'Works on paper III', Galerie Kremers, Berlin, Germany
2019 'Impossible Until it is Done', Opera Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2019 'Dystopia', Banzy Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
2018 Mika Gallery, Bivins Gallery, New York / Texas, USA
2018 Oliver Cole Gallery, Miami, USA
2018 Opera Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2018 Psychedelic Robot, Bivins Gallery, Dallas, Texas, USA
2018 Oliver Cole Gallery, Miami, USA
2018 AAF art fair, Azart Gallery, New York, USA
2018 CONTEXT Miami art Fair, USA
2018 The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn, NY, USA
2017 EMERGEAST Auction IV, Dubai, UAE
2017 Bardo, Aquabit Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2017 ’50 Contemporary Artists’, Enter Art Foundation, Berlin, Germany
2017 ‘Marveloues’, Sebatopol Center of Arts, California, USA
2016 Ludwig Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2016 ‘Dada 100 years after’, Agora Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2016 Affordable Art Fair Milan, Gaudi Gallery, Madrid, Spain
2016 ‘Let me be your Hero’, Ghaya Gallery, Tunis, Tunisia
2015 ‘GlueHeads #3’, Hochparterre Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2015 ‘Minimal Collagen’, Alternativ Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2015 ’30 Days around the World’, Ballery Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2015 48 Stunden Neukoelln, Studio 74, Berlin, Germany
2015 ‘Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover’, Maison de l’image, Tunis, Tunisia
2015 ‘Artists from Berlin’, Chef d’oeuvre, Tokyo, Japan
2015 ‘Black and White’, Ethnik Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2015 ‘GlueHeads #2’, Argh Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2015 ‘Finders Keepers’, Art Share, LA, USA
2015 ‘GlueHeads #1’, Alternativ Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2014- 2015 ‘Mini-prints’, Heiki Arndt DK Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2014 ‘Colagistas Festival’, Alternativ Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2014 ‘Duality’, Espacio Gallery, London, UK
2014 ‘Mixed Medias’, Pop-up Art Gallery, Berlin, Germany

Art Fairs

2022 Art Central Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2021 Art Central Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2021 Art Busan 2021
2020 'CONTEXT Miami Art Fair', Miami, USA
2020 'Art Jakarta', Jakarta, Indonesia
2020 'KIAF Seoul', Seoul, Korea
2020 'Art Central Hong Kong', Hong Kong
2019 'CONTEXT Miami Art Fait', Miami, USA
2019 'Budapest Art Fair', Budapest, Hungary
2019 'Art Jakarta', Jakarta, Indonesia
2019 'Art Expo Malaysia', Kuala Lampur, Malaysia
2019 'Beirut Art Fair', Beirut, Lebanon
2019 'Busan Art Fair', Busan, South Korea
2019 'Fresh Paint Art Fair', Tel Aviv, Israel
2019 'Architectural Digest Show', Uncomoon Beauty Gallery, New York, USA
2018 'Scope Art Fair', Azart Gallery, Miami, USA
2018 'CONTEXT Miami Art Fair', Miami, USA
2017 'EMERGEAST Auction IV', Dubai, UAE

Publications

2014 Collaboration with Arthouse perfumery, Folies à plusieurs, Berlin, Germany

Taher Jaoui b. 1978, Tunisia

Taher Jaoui
b. 1978, Tunisia