Join us from 6-8 PM on Friday, November 3, at Al-Bustan's Hub (3645 Lancaster Ave.) for the opening reception for Mo Darwish's Exhibit, "Once Upon a Memory." The exhibit will be open for view at the Al-Bustan Gallery from November 3, 2023 until January 12, 2023.
Location: 3645 Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19104
Reception: Friday, November 3, 6PM - 8PM
View Dates: November 3, 2023 - January 12, 2024
Artist Statement:
My art reflects my personal experiences as an immigrant, cultural identity, and memories, and aims to bring attention to societal and cultural misconceptions in the different societies I've lived in. By exploring perspectives from different cultures, I reveal similarities in cultural issues across seemingly different Western and Eastern societies.
Through my art, I try to draw attention to political, cultural, and societal discord that often goes unnoticed, by proposing my work to the audience and providing intractability with my art in different forms. I use a range of mediums and techniques to create a thought-provoking experience, encouraging viewers to think critically about their own perspectives on these issues.
Artist Bio:
Mostafa Darwish is an artist currently based in Minnesota, who immigrated to the United States from Egypt. He earned his bachelor's degree and a certificate of fine arts in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2016, where he was recognized with the Faculty Award for outstanding growth and community involvement, along with other academic awards.
In recent years, Mostafa has taken on the role of curator, organizing exhibitions and projects featuring emerging artists. He is also the founder of the "Codex Project," an annual display of 20 artists' books in galleries. Mostafa has been the recipient of multiple awards, grants, and residencies throughout his career in art. In 2021, he was honored with the "New Mary Butler Purchase Award," becoming the first Egyptian-American artist to have his work purchased and added to the permanent collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Museum.
Mostafa's current work is focused on exploring the contrast between his own experiences of different cultures and exposure to a Western environment. Through his art, he aims to draw attention to political, cultural, and societal dissidence. Mostafa's creative practice encompasses a range of mediums, from experimental and academic oil paintings to sound and music-based video art and installation pieces.