Aatifi

The Kandahar-born artist Aatifi, who trained as a calligrapher as a child and later received a degree in painting from Kabul University, combines in his "scriptural art" the traditional, oriental art of writing with elements of modern, European art in an innovative and masterly way. At the core of his paintings lies the light-hearted dance of the letters, which takes the viewer on a journey into previously unknown realms of art. Even without deciphering distinct letters, the observer is welcomed to experience the beauty of the colors, which model the tension of the forms and their spatial effect, as well as their intense, aesthetic radiance. The characters, consisting of broad brushstrokes, form voluminous figures on the light background, individual splashes of paint expose traces of the painting process and offer a certain spontaneity to the works created under the highest concentration.

Price upon request

1965

Born in Kandahar, Afghanistan

1971

Training as a Calligrapher

1989 – 1992

Studies of Painting at University Kabul, Member of the Afghan Artist Federation

since 1995

Exile in Germany

1997 – 1998

Guest Studies of Painting at the University of Arts Dresden with Prof. Siegfried Klotz

1999

Co-founder of the Atelier Oberlicht in Radebeul
Becomes member of the Bundesverband Bildender Künstlerinnen und Künstler, BBK OWL, Germany

lives and works in Bielefeld and Kabul as freelance painter and graphic artist

Gallery of Prints / State Art Collection Dresden

State Art Collection Radebeul

Schleswig-holsteinisches National Culture Center Salzau

Collection Art Society Zwickau e. V.

State Art Collection Zwickau

Private Collections in Afghanistan (Kabul), Australia (Melbourne), Germany (Berlin, Bielefeld, Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Radebeul, Dresden, Moritzburg, Munich, Kiel), Switzerland (Bern), USA (Boise/Idaho, Virginia)

2020

Künstlerstipendium Land NRW 

2012

5. Leipziger Lichtdruck-Symposium 2012, Leipzig
International Graphic-Symposium „Zebra5“, Art Society Zwickau

2009

Scholarship Cultural Center Salzau

2008

Scholarship 18. Sächsisches Druckgrafik-Symposium, Leipzig

2001

Scholarship at the Künstlerhaus, Schwarzenberg

1997

Scholarship in the studio of Moritzburg castle, Moritzburg

1991

First prize winner of the Afghan Artist Association Hakim Naser Khesraw Balkhi

1990

First prize winner of the Afghan department of cultural affairs

1989

First prize winner of the Afghan department of cultural affairs

2020

„Aatifi“, Soloexhibition, Galerie VON&VON, Nuremberg

2019

„Alphabet der Malerei“, Herforder art society, Daniel-Pöppelmann-Haus, Herford

2017

Positions Art Fair, GALERIE VON&VON, Berlin
„Neographie“, TKA Art Advisors, Hamburg
GALERIE VON&VON, Nuremberg
SimonBart Gallery, Sardinia, Italy

2015

„News from Afghanistan“, Museum for Islamic Art at Pergamonmuseum, Berlin
„Prozess III“, Museum Ratingen
„Nachtansichten“, Night of Museums and Galleries, Bielefeld

2014

„Prozess I“, BBK OWL, Ravensberger Spinnerei, Bielefeld

2011

„Vergleich“, Municipal Utility Bielefeld

2010

„Fragments“, Das Fachwerk, Bad Salzuflen

2009

„Skripturale Fragmente“, Gallery at Torhaus, Cultural Center Salzau

2008

„Skripturale Malerei”, Federal Association of Visual Artists NRW, District Association Ostwestfalen-Lippe e.V. (BBK OWL), Ravensberger Spinnerei, Bielefeld

2005

„Tanz am frühen Morgen”, State Gallery Radebeul

1990

„Aatifi”, Ministry of Culture, Kabul, Afghanistan

1989

„Aatifi”, University Kabul, Afghanistan

2021

„Abstrakt – Aatifi und Mark Tobey“, Schauraum Atelier Aatifi, Bielefeld

2020

„Abstrakt – Aatifi und Mark Tobey“, Schauraum Atelier Aatifi, Bielefeld
„Paper Positions Berlin“, Galerie VON&VON (Nuremberg), Gallery weekend Berlin
„Written Imagery“, Group exhibition on type art, art with type and calligraphic painting, Kunst Galerie Fürth and Neue Galerie Dachau

2019

„Paper Positions Berlin“, Galerie VON&VON

2018

„Hier und Jetzt Aktuelle Kunst in Westfalen“, Gustav Lübcke-Museum, Hamm
„Made in Bentlage“, Awardee Exhibition of the Aldegrever Gesellschaft, LWL-Kulturstätte Kloster Bentlage, Rheine

2017

„11 IN 4“, GALERIE VON&VON, Nuremberg
„Abstrakte Neographie“, International Club at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Berlin
„alles abstrahiert alles“, Art Trade Müller-Held, Bad Oeynhausen-Lohe

2016

„Nachtansichten“, Night of Museums and Galleries, Bielefeld

2015

German-Dutch Exchange for Graphics, Borken, Netherlands

2014

German-Dutch Exchange for Graphics, Borken, Netherlands

2013

International Graphic Symposium „Zebra5“, Gallery at Domhof, Art Society Zwickau
„Kunstbox“, Art Fair for Graphic Prints, Kulturort Depot, Dortmund
„Ereignis Druckgrafik 5: Zeitgenössische Intentionen“, Gallery Vor Ort Ost, Leipzig

2012

„Sondereditionen und Jahresgaben“, Gallery Association for Original Etchings, Munich
„Ereignis Druckgraphik 4: Ansichten – Aussichten“, Gallery Vor Ort Ost, Leipzig

2011

„Chiffren und Zeichen“, Art Society Kreis Gütersloh
„Metakom“, Art Society Kreis Gütersloh

2009

„Aatifi, Klaus Reincke, Papierarbeiten“, Gallery Grabenheinrich, Gütersloh

2008

„Aatifi, Harald Alff, Orit Hofshi, Gudrun Petersdorff, Steve Viezens – 18. Sächsisches Druckgrafik-Symposium“, Reichshof, Leipzig

2006

„Contemporary Art Kabul“, Art Karlsruhe

Monumental shape dance
Request