Efie Gallery presents ‘Solace in Soil,’ a duo exhibition featuring the Emirati artist Dr. Mohamed Yousif and Kenyan sculptor Maggie Otieno, curated by the Emirati curator Shamma Al Mheiri. This exhibition celebrates the connections between the artists’ practices and the cultural exchange between the Middle East and Africa.
Dr Mohamed Yousif, an artist with a career spanning five decades and twice featured in the Venice Biennale, will be the first Emirati artist showcased at Efie Gallery. His sculptures reflect a deep engagement with the natural environment, exploring themes of motion and stillness. His works are part of the Sharjah Art Foundation collection and have been exhibited internationally, including notable appearances at the Venice Biennale (2015, 2017), the Kunstmuseum in Bonn (2005), the Bangladesh Biennale (Golden Prize, 2004), and the 5th New Delhi Biennale (1982).
Maggie Otieno, presenting her first exhibition since a sold-out debut at Art Dubai 2024, focuses on abstract figures made from distressed railway sleepers. These 150-year-old sleepers, originating from India and used to build Kenya’s railway line in 1896, carry the stories of countless travellers and labourers. Through manipulation of form and texture, Otieno infuses her sculptures with a sense of historical continuity, resonating deeply with viewers.
Curator Shamma Al Mheiri remarks that ‘Solace in Soil’ is an exploration of materiality and a sculptor’s bond with the earth. Presented together for the first time, Maggie Otieno and Dr. Mohamed Yousif express generational sentiments and experiences through their work. Despite their distinct visual styles, both artists reveal deeper connections that transcend aesthetic differences, embodying a state of continual solace.
About Dr Mohamed Yousif
Dr. Mohamed Yousif, born in 1953 in Sharjah, UAE, is a celebrated artist and academic. He earned degrees in Fine Arts from Cairo, Webster University in St. Louis, and Manav Rachna International University in India. An Assistant Professor at the University of Sharjah, he co-founded the Sharjah National Theatre and Emirates Fine Arts Society. Known for his sculptures and installations, Yousif’s work often features natural materials and themes of motion and stillness. He has exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale and Kunstmuseum Bonn, and has received numerous awards, including the UAE Honour Award and Golden Prize at the Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh.
About Maggie Otieno
Maggie Otieno (b. 1974) is a Kenyan visual artist based in Nairobi. Initially a painter, she transitioned to sculpture in 1996 at Kuna Trust Art Center under Elijah Ogira’s guidance. Embracing 3D art, Otieno became a full-time sculptor, starting with stone and wood before integrating found objects, particularly wood and metal. Despite no formal training in sculpture, she advanced her practice through experimentation. Her abstract figures, made from 150-year-old railway sleepers, offer social commentary and evoke emotion. Recently, she featured in the ‘Anthropocene Museum 9.0: The Old Sharjah Slaughterhouse Tour’ at the 2023 Sharjah Architecture Triennial, curated by Tosin Oshinowo.
About Shamma Al Mheiri
Shamma Al Mheiri (b. 1999, Dubai) is an Emirati curator and art history researcher specialising in modern and contemporary Arab art, archaeology, and cultural institutions. She holds an M.A. in Art History and Museum Studies and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Sociology from Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. Joining Dubai Culture & Arts Authority in 2021 as a senior officer, she gained valuable project management experience in the creative industries. Al Mheiri has curated several exhibitions, including the 10th Sikka Art and Design Festival. In 2023, she completed a work placement at the Louvre’s Near East Antiquities department. She now supports emerging creatives and researches contemporary UAE art.
Location: Efie Gallery, Dubai
Dates: 31 May – 6 October 2024