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Artist Statement:
Speaking about his art and the
1973 War, Abdi said:
"Out of my world view and my
loathing of war, and also out
of my profound concern for the
future of relations between
the two peoples, Arab and
Jewish, I have shown my two
works here in the exhibition
entitled “Echoes of the
Times”.. When the cannons
thundered on the Golan Heights
and the banks of the Suez
Canal, and when the future of
the region was at risk, I
recalled the words of Pablo
Picasso, and in my work I said
“no to war”. In accordance
with my artistic beliefs, art
must be committed and play a
role.... In the same way that
an artist lives the events of
the past, present and future,
he also lives the conflict
between Man and the forces of
evil and destruction. And when
society and humankind are in
crisis, the artist is required
to express himself
harmoniously by means of the
artistic vehicle at his
disposal […] and so […] the
role of the artist in his
work, thoughts and worldview
is to reinforce the perpetual
connection between himself and
the society in which he lives.
I was brought up according to
this approach ...
Further Information
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Artist Exhibitions:
Abed Abdi held his first
exhibition in Tel Aviv in
1962.
Over the years, he has
participated in over 50 group
exhibitions, among them the
joint Palestinian-Israeli
exhibition titled “It’s
Possible” which toured the USA
and Germany between 1988 and
1990. In 1995 he participated
in the second ...
Further Information
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Artist Reviews:
Coming Soon!
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Collections:
Academy of Fine Arts, Dresden,
Germany
Archives of Israel Museum
Archives of the art collection
of the Presidential Palace,
Republic of Hungary
Her Royal Highness Princess
Wijdan Ali, Amman
National Museum, Amman, Jordan
Ministry of Culture,
Palestinian Authority
Ministry of Culture, Sofia,
Bulgaria
Municipality of
Oldenburg,Germany
Municipal Museum of ...
Further Information
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Commissions:
Coming Soon!
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Abed Abdi Biography:
| Biographical information for Abed Abdi can be found below. The artist may choose what information to display. Sometimes the artist chooses not to display personal information to the general public. |
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Age
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64
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| Gender |
Male
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| Status |
Married
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| Children |
3
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| Religion |
not provided |
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| Education |
Masters of Fine Arts |
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| Hobbies / Interests |
not provided |
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| Favorite Artistic Medium |
Mixed Media
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| Favorite Arthistory Movement |
Contemporary Realism - (1965 - 1975)
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| Favorite Visual Artist |
not provided
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| Favorite Work of Art |
not provided
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| Biggest Artistic Inspiration |
not provided |
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| Why Did You Become An Artist |
not provided |
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| Your Personal Biography |
Abed Abdi, born in February 1942 in Haifa, Mandate Palestine, is a painter, graphic designer, sculptor and lecturer of the arts.
During his high school days he learned painting and sculpting at the workshops of art teachers Yaskil Avraham, Meirowitch Zvi, and sculptor Kafri Mordecai.
In 1962 was accepted to the Israeli Painters and Sculptors Association, the first Israeli Arab artist to join the association, at the age of 20.
In 1962 Abdi held his first exhibition in Tel Aviv.
In 1964 was granted a scholarship to study in East Germany (DDR), where a year later he was accepted to the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. During his studies he specialized in murals art and environmental sculpting. His academic supervisors where professors Gerhard Bondzin, Gerhard Kettner, and Lea Grundig. In 1970 he received his masters degree, and was selected along with other graduating students to participate in the erection of a huge mural at the front of the Cultural Palace building (Kulturpalast) in Dresden.
In 1972 Abdi returned from Germany back to his home city Haifa, and started working as an illustrator, graphic designer, sculptor, curator and teacher of fine arts in Colleges and community centers.
In the years 1972 to 1982 he was the graphic designer and graphic editor of the newspaper Al Ittihad and of the literary journal Al Jadid published in Haifa. During this period, he created caricatures and illustrations.
In the 1990s he began turning to mixed media and color painting, using all kinds of materials like glass, aluminium, copper and wood.
Public Art: Monuments and Environmental Sculptures
Abed Abdi has erected a number of memorial monuments and murals in Israel: in 1976 – a sculpture to commemorate Land Day together with Israeli artist Gershon Knispel in Sakhnin; in 1984 – the memorial to commemorate 75 years for the existence of the Galilean municipality of Shefa Amr. More recently he erected the martyrs memorial monuments in Kufor Kanna and in Kufor Manda.
In 1998 he erected an environmental sculpture 'Homage to Amman' at the piazza of the Jordan National Gallery of fine art in the city of Amman.
In 2007 he participated in the erection of the Pillar for Friendship in the United Kingdom, organized by the British Blacksmiths Association.
Abdi has painted a number of murals in Haifa, Jaffa and Nazareth and dozens more environmental sculptures in various locations and schools.
He also created the mosaic at the front the House of Grace church in Haifa.
Other Activities:
Abdi is the Founder of 'Ibdaa' Association (1994) for the Advancement of Visual Arts among Israeli Arabs, and of 'Arabelle' Association (2006) for deepening the dialogue between Arabs and Jews through Arts, and was one of the Founding Members of the 'Khalil el Sakakini' Cultural Center in Ramahalla (1998).
From 2004 to 2009 Abdi served as President of the Al Maidan theater in Haifa, and from 1996 to 2000 was a member of the Committee for Arts and Culture, run by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Israel.
2008- , Co-curator of the open air art exhibition bringing together Israeli, Palestinian and foreign artists, attached to the “Holiday of Holidays” multicultural event, taking place in Haifa each year through the whole month of December, celebrating the Christian, the Muslim and the Jewish holidays.
Awards and honors
The city of Haifa awarded Abdi the “Herman Struck Best Artist of the Year” prize in 1973.
That year, he also obtained the Yong Artist’s award at the Berlin International Youth Festival.
The city of Haifa awarded him the “Herman Struck Best Artist of the Year” prize for the second time in 1999.
In 2008 was awarded The Prize in Art and Design by of the Israeli Minister of Culture and Sport. He is the first Palestinian artist to get this prize.
In 2008, Abdi received a honorary mention by the Anna Lindh Foundation for his activities in fostering Euro Mediterranean dialogue through the arts.
In 2010 was awarded The Notable of Haifa sign of appreciation medal by the mayor of the city of Haifa. (Israel)
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