Modhir Ahmed (born 1956) is an Iraqi-Swedish artist.
Life and work
Born in
Baghdad,
Iraq, Modhir Ahmed has lived in Poland and Sweden.[1]
Modhir Ahmed studied at Baghdad Institute of Fine Arts (1974–79) and received a BFA Major in Graphic Arts.[2] He spent his leisure time at the national museum, drawing and studying the basic principles of abstract and minimalist art. Inspired by his
Polish professors Modhir pursued studies in
Poland, leaving Iraq in 1980, a few months before the Iran/Iran war.[1] After completing five years at the
Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw (1981–86) he achieved an MFA Major in Painting.[2] Modhir then went to
Sweden where he studied
computer graphics in
Skövde to develop his printmaking techniques (1990–91).[2] He became director of The Print Workshop in
Falun. Modhir gained a
Karlskoga Nobel Art scholarship in
Karlskoga, Sweden in 2000 for his contribution to the graphic arts.
Together with partner artist/art critic Maria Vivero, he worked on a project about
Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, which gave rise to the book Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, 40 years of painting, from himself, by himself, for himself, a Shaikh's retrospective.[3]
In January 2012, Modhir Ahmed had his 35 year's Retrospective exhibition curated by Anne Seppanen at Dalarnas Museum in
Falun. The exhibition will travel in October to
Borås, the artist first residence in Sweden, and will be shown at Algarden Gallery.[4] He recently visited the northern part of Iraq after 30 years.[5]
Selected awards and scholarships
1986: Polish Cultural Department Scholarship, Warsaw, Poland
1992: The 10th Norwegian International Print Triennial, Fredrikstad, Norway (Jury prize)
1995: The 11th Norwegian International Print Triennial, Fredrikstad, Norway (1st prize)
1997: The Annie Bergman Graphic Fund, Sweden
1999: Schreiters Travel Scholarship in Grafikens Hus, Mariafred, Sweden
Alf Johansson, ‘Lanstinget och kulturen’ Dalarnas Cultural Programme 2005, Dalarnas, Sweden
Jordi Arko, ‘Maddelanden Foreningen for Grafisk Konst’ National Museum, 2006 ars porfolj, Stockholm, Sweden
Karin Perers, ‘Rymd. Rytm. Rum.’ Avesta Art 2006, exhibition catalogue, Avesta, Sweden
Krzysztof Szymanwicz, ‘Salong Ost,’ exhibition catalogue, Rattviks, Sweden, April 2006
Eva Liden, ‘Falu Konstgrafiska Verkstad 50 Ar,’ exhibition catalogue, Falun, Sweden, April 2006
Richard Noyce, ‘Printmaking at the Edge’ book about the condition and direction of Print Art, published by A&C Black (London), UK, April 2006, pp. 121–123
Maria Vivero, ‘Modhir Ahmed’ Bahrain Clientele Magazine issue 10, Bahrain, May 2007, pp. 6–10
Richard Noyce, ‘Falu Triennalen 2007,’ exhibition catalogue, Falun, August 2007
Maria Vivero, ‘Portrait of an International Artist ’ Ohlala Magazine, Bahrain, September 2009, pp. 26–31
Maria Vivero, ‘Iraq:Two faces ’ Two-Man show with Faisel Laibi Sahi, Exhibition catalogue, Bahrain, January 2010
Arabian Knight Magazine, ‘Taking it to the limits ’ Vol. 12, Issue 4, Bahrain, Autumn 2010
Meem Gallery ‘Art in Iraq Today - Part 1 ’Exhibition Catalogue, Dubai, UAE, October 2010
Meem Gallery ‘Art in Iraq Today’co-published by Skira and Meem Editions, sponsored by Crescent Petroleum, Dubai, UAE, October 2011
Anne Seppanen, Maria Vivero ‘Modhir Ahmed: 35 Years Retrospective’ Exhibition catalogue, Dalarnas museum, Falun, Sweden, January 2012
Bjorn Bredstrom, Modhir Ahmed, Grafik Nytt, Sweden, May 2012