About
Born in Tunisia in 1983, Haythem Zakaria is a France-based transdisciplinary artist. Profoundly influenced by cosmogony and spirituality, his work is a constant experimentation of the possible conjunction of various systems and disciplines (sociology, economy, ethnography, etc.). By basing his aesthetic practice on a transdisciplinary approach, Zakaria uses a considerable variety of tools and techniques. He explores, at each time, new methods in a continuous quest of archetypal figures, via new technologies (interactive programming, installations, different types of sensors, etc) but also through more classic mediums (photography, video, drawing, sculpture, etc.).
The art of Haythem Zakaria is prolix, exploring diverse forms, disciplines and fields of research, leaning on philosophical, mythological and theological references and readings. In Interstices, his latest work for which he received the Grand Prize of the Japan Art Media Festival, the artist resorts to simpler and more basic tools while preserving the digital aspect of his art. Haythem Zakaria exhibited his work in Tunisia (“Jaou 2017”, “Circumambulation”, the solo exhibition “Interstices: Opus I”,…) and France (“Kaïros – desseins”, “14 secondes”, the solo exhibition “La poétique de l’éther”,…) but also in Belgium, England, Japan, Egypt, Morocco…
In June 2022, he was invited to exhibit at documenta 15. Since 2010, the visual artist has created an oeuvre in which art becomes an epistemological research, and where aesthetic concerns meet social, spiritual and philosophical problematics. Because of the simplicity of its forms, the work of Haythem Zakaria is as hermetic as “reality” could be, and it reveals its multiple meaning only when observed patiently and thoroughly.
Selected exhibitions
2025
Made with Your Magic – First Movement, Tunis, Dream City, Tunisia
From Alif to Zayn, Casa Árabe, Madrid, Spain
Techno-Ecologies and Bodies of Memory: the Environment as Battleground,Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, Berlin, Germany
Cairotronica: Out-Natured !, Cairo, Egypt
Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective, La Biennale di Venezia, Italy
Echo.II, modular synth performance at, Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts. Diriyah Art futures, Saudi Arabia
2024
Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts, Diriyah Art futures, Saudi Arabia
MAP, PLAY, GAME. La cartographie en jeu(x) : un art du jeu critique et de la géopolitique, galerie La box, Ensa de Bourges, France
HOUSE OF REASONED TRUTHS, Telematic Media Arts, San Francisco, USA
HOUSE OF REASONED TRUTHS, V-F-X Ljubljana, Slovenia
Je me suis bâti sur une colonne absente, Le Violon Bleu Gallery, Tunisie
HOUSE OF REASONED TRUTHS, Stephen Lawrence Gallery (University of Greenwich), London, UK
HOUSE OF REASONED TRUTHS, Södertälje konsthall, Södertälje – Stockholm, Suede
2023
Rabat, Capital of African Culture, HOUSE OF REASONED TRUTHS, Morocco
Scripts and calligraphy The paths of the soul, the Irqah Hospital, Saudi Arabia
2022
OVNi – Objectif Vidéo Nice, France
Siwa plateforme – L’Economat at Redeyef, documenta fifteen, Kassel, Germany
Silsila, le voyage des regards, Institut des Cultures d’Islam, Paris
2021
This word doesn’t exist, The Wrong Biennale
KIKK FESTIVAL, Namur, Belgium
Des Airs“, La Boîte, Un lieu d’art contemporain, Tunisia
Archive(s) Sensible(s), Le Cube Independent Art Room, Rabat, Morocco
Rétrospective II, solo show, Galerie Valérie Delaunay, Paris
2020
Gabès Cinema Fen: Stuttgart,Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart
Festival Francophonie métissée, Centre Wallonie Bruxelles, Paris
Time is Love.12, Blue Oyster Art Project Space, Dunedin, New Zealand
Time is Love.12, WEOPENSPACE, Universal Feelings: Myths & Conjunctions,Vienna
2019
L’AntiChambre, George V Art Center, Alta Volta Agency, Beijing, China
LOVE & OTHER PERSPECTIVES, The PICNIC Pavilion, Venice Biennale, Italy
FORGOTTEN ENLIGHTENMENTS, Halle 14, Leipzig, Germany
L’AntiChambre, Alta Volta Agency, Paris, France
Trans.mutations(s), solo show, Galerie Valerie Delaunay, Paris, France
2018
21st Japan Media Arts Festival, National Art Gallery Tokyo, Japan
Kerkennah 01, Ghaya gallery, Kerkennah, Tunisia
EL KAZMA, La Boîte Un lieu d’art contemporain, Gabes, Tunisia
Art Brussels, Discovery, Discov, Aïcha Gorgi Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
La Boîte, 2007-2017, La Chapelle Sainte Dominique Carthage, Tunisia
Digi-poésie”, Under Construction Gallery, Paris, France
2017
MOUSSEM VITRINE, MOUSSEM, Brussels, Belgium
AKAA ART FAIR #2, Aïcha Gorgi Gallery, Paris, France
Metaxu. Poé(li)tique du voisinage, B’Chira Art Center, Tunisia
καιρός – desseins, MAC Arteum, Châteauneuf-le-Rouge, Paris
14 secondes, Le 116 centre d’art contemporain Montreuil, Paris
Jaou 2017, Kamel Lazzar Fondation, Tunisia
Interstices // Opus I, solo exhibition, Institut Français de Tunisie, Tunisia
Inframince, Pépinières européennes, Fondation Hippocrène, Paris, France
2016
Tunisia, The New Picture, Selma Feriani Gallery, Tunisian Embassy in London, UK
Transmutations, solo exhibition, Regard Sud Gallery, Lyon, France
Ruthmos, solo exhibition, Aïcha Gorgi Gallery, Tunisia
Entrelacs, Valerie Delaunay Gallery, Zamaken, Paris, France
London Design Biennale, Somerset House, London
The Solo Project art fair, solo exhibition, Zamaken, l’ART EST VIVANT, Basel, Swiss
3ajel, le temps réel, Aïcha Grogi Gallery, Talan, Tunisia
Intension, Masnaâ #4, Venise Cadre Gallery,Casablanca, Morocco
Cairotronica, Symposium of Electronic and New Media arts, Cairo, Egypt
La poétique de l’éther, solo exhibition, DDessin (16) art fair, atelier Richelieu, Paris, France
2015
The 999 Game, Design Week Dubai
Post African Futures, The Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
All the world is a mosque, Fondation Kamel Lazaar, JAOU, Tunisia
Remini scences, Aïcha Gorgi Gallery, Talan, Tunisia
Il manque les noms sacrés, solo exhibition, La Boîte, Tunis, Tunisia
+216, La Friche Belle de Mai, Marseille, France
2014
Circumambulation, Aïcha Gorgi Gallery, Talan, Tunisia
2013
Little Big Crunch, Plateforme Gallery, Paris, France
Digitale Afrique, MP13, mcd and Planète émergences, Marseille, France “Images parallèles”, SIANA festival, Evry, France
Fragile | HACH, Hedi Turki Gallery, Tunisia
Nuit Blanche, French institute of Oran, Algeria
Soirée Dessinée#6, Talmart Gallery, Paris, France
Place au 14 janvier, Talmart Gallery, Paris, France
2012
BYOB”, Platoon Kunsthalle, Berlin
Objets son”, E--Fest festival, Abdellia palace, Tunisia
Autoportrait”, B’Chira Art Center, Tunisia
2011
Frontières, Les Bouillants festival, Rennes, France
2010
Festival CURRENTS, Santa Fe, USA
Festival RAFLOST, Reykjavík, Island
Festival City Sonics, Mons, Belgium
FEST, Tunis, Tunisia
Art Award
2018
Grand Prize for “Interstices” (Opus I & II), Japan Media Arts Festival, Japan
Collections
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum (Top), Japan
The Ministry of Culture, Saudi Arabia
Residencies
2020
Centre Wallonie Bruxelles, Paris, France
Cité internationale des arts, Paris, France
2016
Kulturlabor, Goethe Institut, Tunisia
2015
Svalholm – Danish Cultural Exchange & Performing Art, Denmark
2011-2012
Emile Zola, Junior High school, Choisy-le-Roi, France