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
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