Bassem Yousri
Bassem Yousri’s multi-media works explore his personal investigation into contemporary Egyptian identity that straddles religious fundamentalism and cultural Westernization with a relationship to the artistic grandeur of a culture rooted in history. Working with large-scale wall drawings, objects and video, Yousri’s installation at Kala is inspired by the story telling qualities of ancient Egyptian murals. Additionally, there will be screenings of two documentary videos by Bassem Yousri titled Keep Recording and Still Recording. Filmed in Cairo and Philadelphia, these complimentary works challenge cultural stereotypes by juxtaposing random footage of friends with street exchanges involving passing strangers. Yousri came to the United States from Cairo as the recipient of Fulbright Grant to continue his studies in painting, video and fabric arts. In Philadelphia, he studied at Drexel University and received his MFA from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art. This is his first exhibition on the West Coast.