KAMRAN SAMIMI

Before Nature (I Am Both Created and Destroyed)

THe Third Line, Dubai

11 January - 16 February 2024

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Kamran Samimi's first exhibition with The Third Line – “Before Nature (I Am Both Created and Destroyed)” – draws inspiration from the land's rich tapestry of natural materials. During his three-week trip to Dubai in the lead up to this exhibition, Samimi harnessed the organic shapes of the UAE's mountains and rocks to produce his paintings entitledTranslations (2024). He also produced a large stone sculpture entitled Unbroken Column (2024) during his time in Dubai, which is installed outdoors in The Yard at Alserkal Avenue. Delving into the concealed narratives of the UAE's mountainous terrain, Samimi's practice is deeply rooted in a profound sense of place. As he explores the dynamics between human and non-human ancestors, his multicultural identity (Iranian/Norwegian, raised in rural Hawai'i) lends a distinctive perspective to unraveling these connections and conflicts.

“Our ancestors had a direct relationship with the natural world, knew a life indivisible from the rain, the sea, the wind, the stones. Through my marks and gestures, I honor their sacrifices and stories, and weave their layered histories with my own. In this fleeting world, I seek solace in The Ineffable -- finding within Nature that which unites and endures.” – Kamran Samimi