In this exhibition, Zaki has dedicated the time to polishing his craft by methodically constructing duplicates of a number of those early artworks from a variety of materials, a practice passed down to him by his father who learned it in Omar’s hometown, Pietrasanta in Italy. His sculpture “Tha’er”, stands shiny in bronze, while its replica in stone is a more honed version clearly illustrating the refinement in Zaki’s craft, skillfulness, and steadiness.
His new work depicting young boys in various states serves as a poignant exploration of personal growth through introspection. Each figure symbolises a distinct phase of existence and emotion, from simmering anger to profound rebirth. The boys in Zaki’s series are a mere reflection of his innermost, a way to process a lifetime and a means to allow space for growth.
Notably, Zaki’s sculptures are devoid of mouths, strengthening his implication of simplicity as well as emphasising the figures’ subtle expressions, or perhaps a reflection of his upbringing as an Italian-Egyptian who navigated life speaking English and often feeling misunderstood by those around him. Zaki explores all those emotions and phases in the hope of finding connections and setting a stone for relatability against the viewer.
Through his art, Zaki endeavours to cast his creations with profound meaning, utilising metaphors, gestures, and the sensations employed through his diverse range of materials, including bronze, stone, plaster, and fibreglass. This exhibition stands as a pivotal moment in Zaki’s artistic journey, showcasing his unwavering commitment to self-improvement and unrelenting quest for significance through his art.
Biography:
Born 1996 in Pietrasanta, Italy, Italian-Egyptian Omar Zaki began learning about technical tools and skills for sculpting bronze and carving stone through his father Khaled Zaki. He worked in the studio as his assistant between both the cities of Cairo and Pietrasanta.
In 2016, Zaki divided his time between the Netherlands and Italy, enrolling at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences where he studied Dutch Language and Business Management courses for two years. He later returned to Egypt to complete his university studies in Marketing & International Business as well as to pursue the art of drawing and sculpting.
Zaki’s practice is influenced by reflection, self-exploration, and the continuous search in human nature while simultaneously being adamant to refine his skills and techniques in sculpting.
He has exhibited his work in several group exhibitions including the Youth Salon (2020, 2022), Ubuntu Revisited 4 (2020), TAM Summer Exhibition (2020), Farouk Hosny art contest (2021), Art Revolution Taipei Biennial – Taiwan (2021), and Adam Henein Art Prize (2022).
