B. 1988
Visual artist Khaldoun Hijazin probes systems of power and dominant ideologies through dark humour and densely layered narratives.
George Orwell asserted that: ''Each joke is a tiny revolution'' and Hijazin, mining his personal histories - his father is a well-known political comic and actor - takes satire to tackle the deep-seated socio-political questions of the 21st century. Through the lens of critical theory Hijazin unpacks a constellation of governance, hegemony, and intangible force that he observes as an intriguing network of influence. Avoiding direct commentary, Hijazin's meanings remain unfixed to be mutually and perpetually explored.
Blending classicism and pop culture, Hijazin's art alludes to a range of representational traditions; from Baroque painting to contemporary media and cinema. He understands that these particular traditions make elaborate allusions to their long-standing implication in the discourses that have prevailed in our collective imagination. Hijazin is concerned with explicating and subverting these structures of appearance from their echoing imperial past towards new globalising formations.
The artist's subjective take on manifestations of contemporary culture with its hybrid and interlinked networks of discourses - social, cultural, economic, political and spiritual - serves as a point of departure. Through the juxtaposing and synthesising of found images and texts from multiple moments in history Hijazin's process culminates in allegorical representations, produced in a painterly language. His explorations, while primarily oil on canvas, also take shape through other 2-dimensional media and experimentations in installation and sculpture. Both the process and product are intimately linked and intended to serve as an alluring visual map for tracing and deconstructing the ironies and complexities inherent in power structures through the lineage of time. Tinged with a sense of scepticism and playfulness, Hijazin's art is seeking to put into action and tension the play of our different sets of collective values, desires, and attitudes in relation to the dominant discourses of our times.
Hijazin received his BA in Visual Arts from the University of Jordan in 2010 followed by an MFA from SMFA at Tufts University, Boston. He is a cultural manager currently holding the position of Director of Art and Cultural Programs at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts and has worked for several years as a faculty lecturer at the School of Arts and Design at the University of Jordan. In addition to his artistic practice, Hijazin has developed a complementary practice as a researcher and curator of workshops and exhibitions that aim to cast new light on the varied cultural and sociopolitical conditions and challenges of his community both locally and beyond.
Hijazin has participated in group and solo exhibitions as well as in workshops and fairs in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Italy, Spain, China and the United States.
EDUCATION
Current, PhD in Philosophy, the School of Arts at the University of Jordan (Amman, Jordan).
2014, MFA, School of the Museum of Fine Arts at TUFTS UNIVERSITY (Boston, USA).
2010, Bachelors in Visual Arts, Drawing and Painting, The School of Arts and Design at the University of Jordan (Amman, Jordan).
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021, The Cherry On Top, Tabari Artspace, Dubai, UAE
2018, Majestic Play, at Wadi Finan Art Gallery, Amman, Jordan
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022, “The 19th Asian Art Biennale of Bangladesh”, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2022, Breaking the Borders, Korean - Jordanian Group Exhibition, Hangar Ras Al Ein, Amman, Jordan
2021, Mixed Palette, at Wadi Finan Art Gallery, Amman, Jordan
2020, Sin Limites, Group Exhibition, Casa Arabe: Madrid and Cordoba, Spain
2019, On Archives in Jordan, Group Exhibition, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Jordan
2018, Pop Art Show Group Exhibition, The Corner Art Space, Amman, Jordan
2017, Empathy & Craft in the 21st Century, Group Exhibition, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Jordan
2017, Meta-scape, Group Exhibition, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Jordan
2016, Temporary Structures & Home Communities, Group Exhibition, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
2015, Woman I Group Exhibition, Gallery 14, Amman, Jordan
2015, MAP OF THE NEW ART, International Group Exhibition, Cini Foundation, Venice, Italy
2014, Trifecta: Year One, Group Exhibition, Fourth Wall Gallery, Boston, MA
2014, The Cyclorama Show: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition", SMFA, Boston, MA
2014, Convergence (Part 1) G roup Exhibition, Khaki Gallery, Boston, MA
2013, Empathic Disgust" Group Exhibition, Mission Hill Gallery, Boston, MA
2013, Moving Pictures: Narrative Structures in Visual Art" Group Exhibition, Mission Hill Gallery, Boston, MA
2011, Group Exhibition, Nabad Art Gallery, Amman, Jordan
2010, Group Exhibition, Orient Gallery, Amman, Jordan
ACADEMIA AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
2020 - Ongoing, Director of Art and Cultural Programs, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts
2014-2020, The School of Arts and Design, Full-time Lecturer, The University of Jordan
2017 - Ongoing, Founder and Coordinator of "Hiwar Art Club" Talks and Workshops Initiative, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts
2018, General Coordinator of "Factory" platform - Foundation and Inaugural festival, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts
2017-18, Advisory Board Member, MMAG, Mohammad and Mahera Abu Ghazaleh Foundation
2013-14, Teaching Assistant, School of the Museum of Fine Arts at TUFTS UNIVERSITY (Boston, USA)
SELECTED FAIRS
2022, Art Cairo, Amman, Cairo, Egypt
2022, Dar Art Fair, Amman, Jordan
2022, Egypt Int’l Art Fair, Cairo, Egypt
2021, Dar Art Fair, Amman, Jordan
2021, Egypt Int'l Art Fair", Cairo, Egypt
SELECTED PARTICIPATIONS
2019, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts,"On Art Archives in Jordan" workshop and exhibition - mentor and curator
2019, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan - Cultural Exchange Artists Delegate to the People's Republic of China
2019, Speaker and Moderator at Phi Science "Research and Innovation Summit" Art and Science Panel Talk
2018, Speaker at TEDx conference, titled "Diverse Intellect" held at The University of Jordan
2018, Fine Arts Faculty - Vigo University, Erasmus exchange workshop/training scholarship, Galicia, Spain
2017, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts,"Empathy & Craft in the 21st Century" workshop and exhibition - mentor and curator
2017, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts,"Meta-scape" workshop and exhibition - mentor and curator
2016, The University of Jordan, "Home Communities" workshop and exhibition - mentor and curator
2015, Speaker at "What Does Art Mean Today" panel talk at Darat Al Funon Foundation
2010, Rome Academy of Fine Arts, workshop attendance certificate, Rome, Italy
2009, Judging panel for students winning artworks, Jordan Hashemite Fund for Human Development
2009, IX. ECUME Mediterranean Cultural Exchanges Workshop, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
SELECTED PRESS
2022, Cover Story, Canvas Magazine Feb/March
2021, 7 Exhibitions In Dubai, What's On Dubai
2021, Perspectives 14: Khaldoun Hijazin, Scape Goat Arts
2021, Tufts Now, In Jordan, a Painter Forges Artful Collaborations
2019, Artmejo, On Archives in Jordan: An Exchange Between The Past and Present
2018, Artmejo, Khaldoun Hijazin and Majestic Play: When M&M's Meet Metaphysics