Mohammed Sami (born 1984, Baghdad, Iraq) channels his personal experiences of living in Iraq and later when he immigrated to Sweden into his painting practice. His works exquisitely render abandoned interiors, claustrophobic landscapes, and uncanny depictions of apparently everyday objects. There is a haunting absence of people in these depictions of space and place, the power of which lies as much in what cannot be seen or hovers just beyond the frame.
Sami draws our attention to certain textures, colours, and forms in each of his compositions: an ominous shadow cast over the crumbling façade of a building; the clustered shadows of trees covering a glowing edifice in the background, or an impenetrable wall pushing up against the painting’s foreground. It is within such evocative details that belated memories are triggered and simmer below the surface of the painting. In Sami’s work, time, like memory, is treated and experienced as a flexible material.
Working directly onto the canvas using a brush, pallet knife, acrylic and spray paint, Sami never takes photographs or makes sketches, instead mining his own experiences from his formative years in Iraq. Yet while his works are freighted with personal memories, they are ambiguous enough to invite multiple associations and readings within each enigmatic composition.
The Point 0 is Mohammed Sami’s first institutional solo exhibition in the UK and is organised by Camden Art Centre in collaboration with De La Warr Pavilion. A previous iteration was exhibited at Camden Art Centre between 27 January – 28 May 2023. This presentation at DLWP features four new large-scale paintings unveiled here for the first time.
The exhibition is accompanied by the first dedicated monograph on Sami’s paintings, designed by Fraser Muggeridge with essays by Darian Leader and Amy Sherlock. Please visit our shop to purchase a copy.
IN THE PRESS
From Camden Arts Centre
Mohammed Sami: The Point 0; Giorgio Morandi: Masterpieces from the Magnani-Rocca Foundation – review | Laura Cumming
There are plenty of welcoming and good value B&Bs & boutique hotels in Bexhill. The De La Warr Pavilion regularly uses the following :
- By Rail
Direct trains go from London Victoria, Brighton and Ashford to Bexhill.
There are also trains from London Charing Cross, changing at St. Leonards Warrior Square and from London Bridge or Charing Cross going to Battle. Battle is only a short taxi journey away (15 mins approx).
Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for up-to-date train travel information. - Taxis
Town Taxis: 01424 211 511
Parkhurst Taxis: 01424 733 456 - By Car
If driving from the London area:
Take the M25, then A21 to Hastings. Turn off at John‘s Cross and follow the signs to Bexhill.
OR
Take the A22 to Eastbourne, go across the Bishop roundabout to the A271 and follow the signs to Bexhill and the seafront. The De La Warr Pavilion is on the Marina.
From the Brighton area:
Follow the A27 out of Brighton until you arrive in Bexhill On Sea. - Parking
Please be aware the Rother District car park outside the De La Warr Pavilion operates paid parking until 7pm. After this time parking is free. There is also lmiited free car parking along the seafront.
Within the limits of this Grade One listed building, the De La Warr Pavilion strives to be fully accessible with a range of facilities to support your visit.
Assistance Dogs are permitted into the building.
Please contact the Box Office on 01424 229 111 to arrange a visit.
Facilities for disabled visitors
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- Disabled toilets on two floors
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