Some happen to believe that some constellations connect the heavens & earth, and such
connection forges human fate. We’re not coined with elaborating the validity or
superstitiousness of likely belief. We’re concerned with discerning the vast and
profound human imagination that has promulgated a visual array with which we weave
our traits.
Human beings have observed the clusters of stars in their endeavour of drawing
meaning out of the heavens and the earth’s happenings. Illustrations and shapes were
born that almost seemed like shadows and forms they had known long before. In
‘Horoscopes’, Askalany weighs his production upon the tapestry of preliminary
illustrations depicting the heavens’ zodiac signs. Each of his sculptures display a set of
visual characteristics typical of each sign.
Our predecessors have visually interpreted the shape of star clusters forming Aries, Leo,
Cancer, Virgo and Sagittarius till they formed all twelve signs. The traits of each sign
determine each person’s behaviour, personality traits, interpersonal relationships and
even their fate. What’s your zodiac sign? Is it a fire, water or earth one?
In his solo, Ahmed Askalany introduces sculptures that take it in turns to be either
sarcastic or animated. Despite the shifting nature of his works, its conceptual tenet
connects with the viewer’s primitive nature that unleashes layers of human memory,
mythology, superstitious manifestations and how they impact on our contemporary
lives

About the Artist

Born in 1978 in Upper Egypt, Askalany currently lives and works in Cairo. His work has been showcased in a variety of exciting venues and exhibitions worldwide, including being a representative of Egypt in the 2009 Venice Biennale.

Drawing heavily on inspiration of his home town of Nag Hammadi in Egypt, Ahmed Askalany portrays simple human figures and animals, in a primitive, naive-like quality that harks back to ancient and primitive techniques but repackaged within a contemporary context. In his artistic endeavors, he leans towards embracing extreme simplicity, deliberately avoiding any form of complexity, with the aim of effectively communicating his message to the audience