MONIA BEN HAMOUDA
Monia Ben Hamouda (b. 1991, Milan) lives and works between al-Qayrawan and Milan. She graduated with a BA in Fine Arts from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Milan. Previous positions include a visiting professorship at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Dresden and a seat in the jury at Filmmaker Festival, Milan. In 2020, she received a Special Mention for the Ducato Prize.
Following the belief that each individual is inextricably connected to their family tree and the psycho-mental universe of their ancestors, Ben Hamouda attempts to master her influences in a contemporary and constantly changing landscape. Born into a Muslim community as the daughter of an Islamic calligrapher, Ben Hamouda navigates and confronts her generational heritage through what she calls a shamanic process –creating works that act as gestural exorcisms of the expectations placed upon her by tradition and the politicized present, drawing their power from the urgency of expression. Her visual language, which translates into a broad range of formal approaches, is steeped in cultural and religious symbology and rituals.
Solo exhibitions include: Two suns upon Shatt al Jarid, Pols space, Valencia (2021); Hinna Nights, Bungalow, Berlin (2021); Love Data, Alios 16ème Biennale d’Art Contemporain, Théâtre Cravey Pavilion, La Teste-de-Bûch (2019); Extended protection, Allegoric Defence, Gallery CC, Malmö (2019); Miranda, pane project, Milan (2017).
Group exhibitions include: Nostalghia, Museo Pecci Prato and 101 Numeri Pari, cur. Treti Galaxie, Rome (2020); Collagen Shadows, ADA, cur. Zoë De Luca, Rome (2020); Blade Runner, Sprint & Istituto Svizzero, Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali, cur. Dafne Boggeri, Milan (2020); Unsupported Message Format, Galerie Valeria Cetraro, cur. Pierre Clement, Paris (2019); Swamp Thing versus Man-thing, Et al. etc., cur. Anthony Discenza, San Francisco (2018); Hope, Universitätssammlungen Kunst, cur. New Scenario, Dresden (2017); Trigger Party #6, Marselleria Permanent Exhibition, cur. Siliqoon, Milan (2017); Milano Film Festival, Milan (2016); L’Intimità dell’immagine come luogo in comune, Viafarini DOCVA, cur. Gianni Caravaggio, Milan (2014).
Awards include: Torino Social Impact Art Award x Artissima (2021); Art Business Accelerator Grant – Artwork Archive + Redline Contemporary Art Center (2021); DUCATO Contemporary Art Prize Special Award (2020).
Visit the artist’s exhibition at BUNGALOW here
Website: monia-benhamouda.tumblr.com
