Thameur Mejri
Thameur Mejri
Thameur Mejri (1982, Tunis) investigates complexities of human existence by identifying parallels between paradoxical ideas of violence, innocence, guilt and shame. The human figure acts as a central element throughout his compositions, the vigorous manner in which Mejri places the figure onto the canvas, reflects the relationship between painting and painter, suggesting self-portraits that battle to fully emerge and reveal themselves. There is an interplay between painting and film. He approaches painting as a film director and he films with the vision of a painter, allowing for the qualities of each discipline to manifest upon one another; the chaos and movement in his paintings are a testament of this. The energetic application of colour establishes the atmosphere in this confrontation between heaven and hell, each represented by blue and red. In choosing these colours as a departure point and importantly for their opposing religious connotations of heaven and hell, he confirms the major influence of these symbols, particularly in the Muslim world.
Selected exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2022 - Until My Veins Collapse (States of Emergency). Curated by Salma Tuqan & Matthieu Lelièvre. MAC Lyon. Lyon. France
2021 - States of Exception. Curated by Matthieu Lelièvre. B7L9 Art Station. The Kamel Lazaar Foundation. Tunis. Tunisia
2020 - Walking Targets. Curated by Matthieu Lelièvre. Selma Feriani Gallery. Tunis. Tunisia
2019 - Eroded Grounds. Gallery 1957. Accra. Ghana
2017 - Heretic Spaces. Elmarsa Gallery. Dubai. UAE
Before you split the ground. Jack Bell Gallery. London. UK
2012 - Disaster Pieces. Elmarsa Gallery. Tunis. Tunisia
2010 - mâle (Dieu) èpouvantail. Artyshow Gallery. Tunis. Tunisia
Group Exhibitions
2019
13th Cairo biennale. Cairo. Egypt
Incarnations: African Art as Philosophy (Sindika Dokolo Art Collection). BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts. Brussels. Belgium
What is a Box. Elmarsa Gallery. Tunis. Tunisia
2018
Cultural Narratives. Selections Art Magazine. Dubai. UAE
Tunisian Pavillon. XIII Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Art 2018. Dakar. Senegal
Mitli Mitlak (Like you. Like me). N'Namdi Center for Contemporary Art. Michigan. USA
2016
Yesterday is Tomorrows Memory. Elmarsa Gallery. Dubai. UAE
Place de la Gare. Ghaya Art Gallery. Sidi Bou Said. Tunisia
Effervescence. Institut des cultures d’islam. Paris. France
2015
You Love Me. You Love Me Not. Galeria Municipal Almeida Garrett. Porto. Portugal
Coup de crayon. Ghaya Art Gallery. Sidi Bou Said. Tunisia
Intervalles. Elmarsa Gallery. Tunis. Tunisia
Untitled. Elmarsa Gallery. Tunis. Tunisia
8th Edition Printemps des Arts Plastiques de La Marsa. Palais Abdellyah. Tunis. Tunisia
Collection. Kanvas Art Gallery. Tunis. Tunisia 2009 Point Rouge Gallery. Montreal. Canada
7th Edition Printemps des Arts Plastiques de La Marsa. Palais Abdellyah. Tunis. Tunisia
Annual Exhibition of the Visual Artists Association. Tunis. Tunisia
2008
6th Edition Printemps des Arts Plastiques de La Marsa. Palais Abdellyah. Tunis. Tunisia
2007
Group Exhibition. The Infusion Gallery. Los Angeles. USA
2005
Galerie Ali Guermessi. Tunis. Tunisia