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SHORT INTRO
Suliman Al Salem’s work explores the complexities of human perception, emotion, and behavior, questioning the nature of reality. Drawing from philosophy and digital aesthetics, he reimagines reality through fragmented representations, using materials such as video, sand, lenticular printing, and language. His practice examines how the mind shapes and filters sensory input, creating layered, cyclical experiences that reflect the instability of truth. Al Salem’s work engages with themes of perception, memory, and the ever-shifting nature of reality.
ABOUT
Suliman Al Salem is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose work explores the complexities of the “state of being,” examining the motivations and circumstances that shape human emotions and behaviour. Engaging with themes such as perception, emotion, digital culture, and spatial experience, he challenges conventional notions of reality, often re-presenting it in different forms to uncover multiple facets of truth. Al Salem draws inspiration from philosophy and metaphysics, envisioning the mind as a complex system where perception, memory, and vision are illusions, influenced by sensory input and cognitive filtering. His practice delves into the concept of the void, detachment, and shifting perspectives, questioning how our minds selectively ignore and reshape the reality we experience.
Through his deep engagement with digital aesthetics, Al Salem translates elements like pixelation, compression artifacts, and digital glitches into his work, using them as metaphors for fragmented perception and the instability of truth. His use of looped video, a medium that reinforces cyclical awareness, alongside materials such as sand, lenticular printing, and language, creates immersive and layered experiences. Al Salem’s work presents a continuous exploration of human perception and experience, where truth is not fixed but is constantly in flux, inviting the viewer to reconsider how they interpret the world around them.
BIO
Suliman Al Salem (b. 1993, KSA) is a multidisciplinary visual artist. He holds a Diploma in Architecture from the College of Technology in Jeddah, KSA (2013-2017).
He has previously taken residencies with renowned artist Nasser Al Salem in Riyadh and Jeddah (2020 and 2018), ultimately becoming his long-standing studio manager.
Al Salem’s solo exhibitions include "Floating on the Horizon" curated by Alexandra Stock, the Diriyah Biennale with Hafez Gallery, Riyadh, KSA (2024) and "The State of Being", Al Fawad Creative Space, Jeddah, KSA (2020).
Select group exhibitions and international art fairs include "Authenticity and Modernity", curated by Qaswara Hafez and Heba Almoaz, Hafez Gallery, Jeddah, KSA (2025); Abu Dhabi Art with Hafez Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE (2024); "Eye of the Collector", curated by Nazy Vassegh, The Garrison Chapel, London, UK (2024); Art Dubai with Hafez Gallery, Dubai, UAE (2024); Noor Riyadh, curated by Jérôme Sans, Pedro Alonzo, Fahad Bin Naif and Alaa Tarabzouni, Riyadh, KSA (2023); Abu Dhabi Art with Hafez Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE (2022); Noor Riyadh, curated by Dr. Eiman Elgibreen and Pam Toonen, Riyadh, KSA (2021); and “Durational Portrait: A Brief Overview of Video Art in Saudi Arabia”, Athr Gallery, Jeddah, KSA (2020).
His works are part of numerous private and public collections worldwide.
Al Salem currently lives and works in Riyadh, KSA.
2024 .