Sameh Al Tawil

Sameh Al Tawil
Sameh Warm Up.jpg Sameh Warm Up.jpg
Born
🏳️ Nationality	Egyptian and German
💼 Occupation
Notable work	SOLO’’ , ‘‘Ready to Go’’ and ‘‘CHAOS'’
Style	Conceptual art, New Media Art
🌐 Website	samehaltawil.com

Sameh Al Tawil is an Egyptian-born German New media artist, photographer and Activist known for his contributions in the exploration of political and human rights issues in the Middle East. His work combines film, performance, digital installations, and storytelling to provide a perspective on these complex subjects, often viewed through the lens of Egyptian culture and identity. Al Tawil's artistic journey frequently combines Cairo where he was born and Munich, Germany, where he resides.

Early Life and Education

Sameh Al Tawil was born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1978 and he spent his early years in Cairo. Al Tawil pursued a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the Faculty of Applied Arts in Egypt. In 1998-1999, Sameh Al Tawil received a Goethe Institute scholarship to study in Munich, Germany, after helping organize a workshop by German artist Bruno Wank in Cairo. Facing bureaucratic challenges, Al Tawil and his fellow students stepped in, forging a strong friendship with Wank. They collaborated on the workshop and repeated it the following year During a visit to Germany in 1999, Wank introduced Al Tawil to the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, inspiring him to pursue further studies there after completing his education in Egypt. At 22, he moved to Munich, Germany, where he acquired a Diploma of Fine Art from the Academy of Fine Arts (ADBK). Additionally, he studied Media Art Histories at the Danube University in Krems, Austria.

Artistic Vision and Works

Sameh's body of work is distinguished by its thought-provoking exploration of themes, notably freedom, religious identity, artistic identity, and human rights. Through a blend of multimedia techniques, including film, performance, digital installations, and storytelling, Al Tawil focuses on these themes with a Middle Eastern perspective that reflects his deep-rooted connection to the region.

Video Installations

He started his career by working on a project called "Cupboard," created between 1998 and 1999, that explores the complications of human relationships, personal identity, and the symbolism embedded within domestic spaces. Inspired by a real-life family conflict involving his friend Alaa Deswouky from Egypt, Al Tawil aimed to give viewers a 20-minute slice of Alaa's life within the confines of an aged storage room. Al Tawil employed a fixed high-angle camera perspective, reminiscent of a surveillance camera's gaze, which infused the work with an unsettling sense of voyeurism.

He started working on video installations frequently in 2003. He created a video art project in Germany at the same time called, "Kopf (Head)" that was showcased at the Goethe Institute Hall in Cairo, Egypt. Here, Al Tawil aimed to bridge the gap between Egyptian and German cultures through an innovative real-time video installation and performance.

The virtual space created by "Kopf" presented the illusion that these five people were sitting together in the same cafe, despite being in different locations. This artistic endeavour visually fused elements of Egyptian and German culture, offering viewers a unique perspective on the intersection of these two diverse worlds

In 2005 he worked in video project called "Visitors". It was filmed in the Saudi Arabian desert, it's features candid discussions among a group of Egyptian expatriates, set against the striking desert backdrop. The fixed surveillance-style camera captures their conversations, disputes, and moments of camaraderie. post-production manipulations transform the footage into a dramatic portrayal of expatriate experiences, shedding light on the emotional and intricate aspects of their lives abroad. Utilizing surveillance-like cinematography, the project explores the themes of privacy intrusion and the concept of "extimacy," blurring the lines between personal and public domains.

He worked for a single installation artwork called "A442Hz" where musicians preparing for a performance. What appears as a typical sound check takes a thought-provoking turn as the musicians intentionally deviate from the standard 442 Hz tuning , symbolizing resistance against power structures and arbitrary laws it shows the disruption of political events and civil activism through discordant sounds, challenging the concept of unity in times of change.

In 2014, he directed an art film called "Clockwise" which drew inspiration from Egypt's political and social changes. While the film indirectly addresses the political situation in Egypt, its themes are universal, touching on life, death, infinity, and continuity. This film is shot entirely in black and white, devoid of dialogue, and relies heavily on physical expression.

In 2018 he worked in a video project called "Solo" that addressed freedom of expression, alienation, and slavery. He uses music performances as a symbol of freedom while being handcuffed as a representation of slavery's shadow while playing a piano. Al Tawil highlights the struggle for artistic expression within constraints. The project combines visuals, likely photographs and videos, to complement the themes. Al Tawil's approach engages both emotions and intellect to reflect on enduring human stories related to curtailed freedom and the complexities of the slavery narrative.

Art Projects

Al Tawil started working in the field of art project in Saudi Arabia where he worked on "Slavery Document" which explores the concept of exile through the lens of slavery. Al Tawil uses photo-collage techniques to depict his personal experiences in Saudi Arabia. One work in the project resembles a counterfeit Saudi identification card, featuring fingerprints and X-rays of the human body. In the other work he covered himself and some other employees with plastic and shipping structures. To tell the audience the relationship between slavery, identity, and exile, offering a thought-provoking exploration of displacement's impact on human identity and the treatment of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.

Al Tawil exhibited another art project in 2013 titled "Ready To Go" in Bern, Switzerland, where it explores the theme of transition and departure culture. It examines the idea of leaving, whether physically, spiritually, or emotionally. Through a range of symbolic elements, including plastic-covered live piano performances and personal belonging, The art contemplates the complexities of parting from one's home, loved ones, and familiar surroundings. The exhibition raises questions about readiness for departure, both in terms of physical relocation and personal transformation.

He presented another project in 2013 called “Vs Versa” which was showcased during the Di-Egy festival in Cairo, Egypt, a large screen acts as a real-time mirror of reality. It captures and instantly manipulates what it sees through a camera.

Participants select and raise banners, triggering the augmented reality video to transform the images and messages on these banners. This transformation often shifts the liberal expressions in the Egyptian street into Islamic slogans. The video also detects Islamic imagery, responding with real-time Islamic voices and cheers.

In 2017 art he explored the concept of borders and boundaries called "Not for Sale" It delves into the experiences of individuals who embark on journeys, often fraught with danger, in search of better opportunities beyond their familiar borders, both physical and symbolic.

In 2021, he did an art project focused on the visualization of sound data called "CHAOS," During this performance, he used live piano sounds specifically designed to generate 2D/3D visuals in real time. It relied on OSC/MIDI transmission software, specially developed for the project.

Moving Images

In 2004 he started exploring the concept of animation project by working on "No way" It focus on the experiences of individuals who embark on journeys, often fraught with danger, in search of better opportunities beyond their familiar borders, both physical and symbolic.

This project sheds light on the dynamic nature of these borders, which can be transitory, arbitrary, and constantly evolving. Al Tawil say that it offers a deep examination of the human experiences associated with crossing these boundaries in the context of global political, environmental, and social events.

In 2014 he worked in a moving image project called "Sel.fie.less" that was built upon the concepts introduced in "IDEMixer," In this project, individual AI-generated selfies were created of Al Tawil which were created using the Midjourney robot and were sorted through random algorithms over time.

The project offers three distinct versions, each organizing the photos in a unique manner. One version arranges the images by estimated age, another by gender, and the third by colour. These organized images reveal a diversity of non-selfies, showcasing the various methods through which self-portraits are generated, including facial expressions, colours, filters, and styles.

He works on a new moving image project called "CHAOS" it’s software enables the graphical representation and generation of phase and amplitude of music signals. This project explores the potential to render visible the often intangible data that permeates our world. It takes various forms, including audio-visual piano concerts, installations, digital paintings, digital sculptures, and soundtrack release. These experiments seek to substantiate and visually represent sonic data, with Al Tawil's digital piano OSC/MIDI data serving as the primary source for sound and visuals.

Selected Exhibitions

• 10/1999 (Bronze sculpture) Workshop and Exhibition in Goethe Institut Cairo.
• 11/1999(Seven) Group Exhibition in Cairo Atelier
• 07/2000 Bachelor-Exhibition in Faculty of Applied Arts, Cairo, Egypt
• 06/2001(Water symphony) Drawing, Year Exhibition Prof. Brangenberg class ADBK
• 06/2002(Dancing) 3D animation films in the year exhibition in ADBK, Munich, Germany
• 05/2003(Just on time) Video-installation “Ma’am / Grave” Dom Museum, Frankfurt
• 01/2003(Endless journey) film “Kunst am boden” Exhibition ADBK Munich,
• 10/2003(Journey) video / animation with Bruno Wank in Marktoberdorf, Germany.
• 05/2003(Just on time) Video-installation “Ma’am / Grave” Dom Museum, Frankfurt,
• 04/2004(Kopf-Head) Video–Installation exhibitions in Goethe-Institute Cairo.
• 03/2005(VISITORS) video with Patricia Gruel in Uban Gallery, Munich, Germany.
• 03/2005(No way) video/ Animation, Fine art academy Hall, Munich, Germany.
• 12/2006 (SOLO) video performance the Architectural pheromones hall, Jeddah, KSA
• 04/2011(Stop) Live video/Audio performance, Mokhtar museum, Cairo, Egypt
• 04/2013(VS./ سكعلاب) Augmented reality Art project, stadtgalerie,Bern, Switzerland
• 06/2013(Ready To Go / ليحرلل دعتسم ( ّsolo exhibition, Stadtgalerie, Bern, Switzerland
• 09/2013(VS. / سكعلاب ( ّAR/ interactive Art project, Ithuba Gallery, Johannesburg, ZA.
• 10/2013(A442Hz / زتره ٤٤٢ ال (Video Art, Medrar, 5th Cairo Video festival.
• 11/2013(A442Hz / زتره ٤٤٢ ال (Video Art, 1st Afiriperfoma Fest., Zimbabwe
• 02/2014(CLOCKWISE/ ةعاسلا براقع هاجتاب ( Diplom Exhibition 2014, ADBK, Munich,
• 2015 (Door to paradise) Virtual Reality installation within 18th Edition of ISAF Sharja, UAE
• 2017 Shoppingmall" group exhibition in in der Galerie der Künstler Munich, Germany.
• 2019 (Ask Google) Ai video installation within 22nd Edition of ISAF Sharja, UAE.
• 04/2021 (Chaos) artificial intelligence musical performance within Cairotronica cairo.
• 06/2021 (Look at this) Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany
• 07/2021 (Diorama) Ai / 3D graphic within the 42nd General Exhibition, Cairo, Egypt
• 05/2023 (Chaos) - within Nexus group exhibition in VerpachereiGö, Germany

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