HOME IS WHERE THE CHANDELIER HANGS

Born in Lebanon, in 1974, Zena Assi lives and works in London since 2014. She graduated with honours from l’Academie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA), worked in advertising and taught in different universities. Her contemporary work draws inspiration from the relations and conflicts between the individual and his spatial environment, society and its surroundings.

The artist uses various supports and mediums to document and explore the cultural and social changes and put on record our urban contemporary environment’s imprint as well as the impact of our society’s ideologies and political tendencies. Her work takes shape in installation, drawing, etching, experimental animation, sculpture and mainly painting. Themes that are central to her vision include present-day issues, like migration and the relation between memories and people on the move.

Many of her works are repeatedly shown at various international auction houses (Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams and Phillips) and many of her pieces are part of various public as well as private collections (Academie Libanaise des beaux Arts in Beirut, Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah and Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris).

Throughout her artistic practice, her work has won prizes including the Sunny Dupree Family Award for a woman Artist at the 2020 Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy, London, 2020 – the Rosemary & Co Award at the SWA show, London, 2018 and the Special Jury Prize of the XXIX of the Autumn Salon of the Sursock Museum, Beirut, 2009. Assi has exhibited in solo as well as collective shows across Europe, the Middle East and the United States of America.

Zena Assi has exhibited in solo as well as collective shows across Europe, the Middle East and the United States of America including- Alwane gallery (Beirut, Lebanon) from 2008 until 2018, Subtitled Apeal Royal College of Art (London, UK) in 2011, Artsawa gallery (Dubai, UAE) from 2008 until 2017, Zoom Art Fair (Miami, USA) in 2010, Espace Claude Lemand (Paris, France) in 2011 & 2021, Cairo Biennale (Cairo, Egypt) in 2010, Katzen Arts Center of American University (Washington D.C., USA) in 2017, Rebirth Beirut Exhibition Center (Beirut, Lebanon) in 2011, Albareh gallery (Manama, Kingdom of Bahrein) in 2010 & 2021, CAP Contemporary Art Platform Gallery Space (Kuwait) in 2012 & 2021, Art13 & Art14 London Fair (London, UK) in 2013 & 2014, Art Paris (Paris, France) in 2008 & 2020, IWM Imperial War Museum (London, UK) in 2018, IMA Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris, France) in 2021, Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy (London, UK) in 2020 and the 57th Venice Art Biennale (Venice, Italy) in 2017.

The solo exhibition at Galerie & Edition Stephan Witschi is her first exhibition in Switzerland and will run from June 10th until July 16th 2022. Zena Assi will be present at the gallery on June 10 and 11 and on June 11 there will be an Artist Talk, led by Mirjam Fischer (mille pages).