Nasser Almulhim Saudi Arabian, b. 1988
Noh, 2021
Acrylic and oil pastels on canvas
110 x 110 cm
43 1/4 x 43 1/4 in
43 1/4 x 43 1/4 in
$ 8,000.00
Exhibitions
Saudi painter and 3D artist Nasser Almulhim’s practice meditates upon the interaction between geometric and organic forms and their connection to the human psyche. His practice assumes a playful and intuitive approach to art-making, doubling as a therapeutic act that opens what the artist understands to be: “the gate of self-healing.” For this body of work Nasser Almulhim has produced a new sculptural work that materialises the artist’s inner child. The artist is fascinated with the emboldened palette that characterises the playgrounds that are popular in Riyadh. Following the writings of psychoanalysts Jung and Freud, he contends that by establishing a conversation with his inner child repressed memories or trauma might be unleashed. Almulhim draws influence from multiple movements in art history from Modernism to Abstract Expressionism; in this work the influence of Calder’s joyful and animated mobile sculptures is palpable.Literature
Nasser Almulhim explores the flows between the conscious and the subconscious. He navigates the dichotomy of the human psyche, referred to by the artist as "the split" - the space between conscious and subconscious realms.For Almulhim, painting, particularly the application of vibrant, expressive colours, serves as a form of healing and therapy, contributing to his spiritual and artistic growth. The creative process acts as a catalyst for navigating circular thoughts, memories, and trauma, ultimately fuelling growth and transformation. In this work, Almulhim returns to the principles of Jungian psychology. Inspired by Carl Jung's notion of shadow work, which emphasises the importance of confronting one's hidden aspects for self-awareness and inner peace, Almulhim embarks on an exploration of the human psyche.
In The Philosophical Tree (1945), Jung remarked, "One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious". Almulhim embraces this philosophy, seeking to illuminate both the light and darkness within the self through his art. His work challenges viewers to confront their own shadows, but beyond this, his work is bridging the gap between conscious and subconscious realms.