Tabari Artspace is delighted to announce In-Between, a new solo exhibition featuring Saudi abstract painter Nasser Almulhim. For Almulhim, painting, particularly the application of vibrant, expressive colours, serves as a form of healing and therapy, contributing to his spiritual and artistic growth. The creative process acts as a catalyst for navigating circular thoughts, memories, and trauma, ultimately fuelling growth and transformation.
Building upon the themes explored in his inaugural solo exhibition at Tabari Artspace, Shadow Work, Almulhim returns to the principles of Jungian psychology. Inspired by Carl Jung’s notion of shadow work, which emphasises the importance of confronting one’s hidden aspects for self-awareness and inner peace, Almulhim embarks on an exploration of the human psyche.
In “The Philosophical Tree” (1945), Jung remarked, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” Almulhim embraces this philosophy, seeking to illuminate both the light and darkness within the self through his art. His work challenges viewers to confront their own shadows, but beyond this, his latest work is bridging the gap between conscious and subconscious realms.
In In-Between, Almulhim explores the flows between the conscious and the subconscious. Each piece reflects the dichotomy of the human psyche, referred to by the artist as “the split” – the space in between conscious and subconscious realms.
The exhibition comprises 12 works in a palette of striking hues ranging from pistachio to tangerine, black to cerulean. The significance of the number 12 resonates deeply across religious, mythological, and magical traditions, symbolising notions of perfection, entirety, and cosmic order dating back to antiquity. It embodies the passage of time, the rhythm of seasons, and the evolving journey of the human mind over the ages. The works express a surreal, dreamlike quality, with fluid, geometric forms creating portals into the mind. The audience will notice that each piece is framed within a frame, symbolising the artist’s mental world, his consciousness which he aims to safeguard.
Rather than imposing specific interpretations of individual works, Almulhim remains focused on his process and encourages his audience to engage with his art on a personal level, inviting them on their own journeys of transcendence.
Press release from Tabari Artspace
Image: Nasser Almulhim. Shadow flowing towards the lights. 2024. Acrylic and oil pastels on canvas. 180 x 180 cm. Image courtesy of the artist and Tabari Artspace
