9.3.-31.3.2024
Myymälä2 pop-up gallery, Katariinankatu 4, Helsinki

Avajaiset/ Opening 8.3.2024 18:00 – 20:00

Myymälä2 is pleased to present “Poisonous Meadow” with brand new artworks by Saddam Jumaily. The exhibition’s premise is to portray the darker side of the extremist authority of religious leaders, and the politicisation and abuse of religion in Middle Eastern societies such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran. In a very incisive way, the exhibition pretends to push us to sense the concrete and internal moral decay of religious thinking.

Jumaily paintings represent the many aspects of how religion’s role in destroying lives and distorting societies by curbing freedom, especially for women, whose civil freedoms and human rights will be considered a vital test for a free society. In this sense, and intending to contribute to the unavoidable discussion towards women’s equality, the exhibition’s opening timely coincides with the worldwide celebration of International Women’s Day on the 8th of March.

Jumaily has been witness to the deterioration of Middle Eastern societies under the weight of political religion and the repression towards women, resulting in their absence from public life despite growing efforts of engagement of civil society, particularly women and a new wave of youth feminist civil society. In this charged context, Jumaily cannot stay silent, his paintings feel obliged to be charged with critical reflection and fearless audacity. He demonstrates the deep relationships between images, politics, and power. He recognises that artists have to manage extraordinary balancing acts, not merely as acts of survival or confrontation with reality but also as analysis and crude nerve to speak out.

Jumaily is openly critical of the state of affairs in the region. He says; “Many intellectuals and artists in the Middle East do not dare to criticise religious authorities and don’t believe that the dogmas of the fundamentalist clergy are the origins both of their societies and their own ruin. Their religious power appears to ignorant believers to be a kind of meadow, but in reality, it is a poisonous meadow”.

The exhibition curator, Ramiro Camelo, concludes: “With this exhibition, Jumaily again tries to ignite a sort of furious state of mind. Indeed, when looking at this new body of work I could conclude, that he opposes vehemence against vehemence, pathos against pathos, flames against flames. It cannot be denied that the relentless heat he produces burns.”

Artist’s Bio:
Saddam Jumaily (1974) Basra, Iraq. He earned a BA in Visual Arts, in 2000 (Painting) and MFA in 2005 (Painting) from Basra University College of Fine Arts, Iraq.
Solo exhibitions: “Room without corner–or no angel cell”, Galleria Huuto, Helsinki (2022); “I’m possible”, Porvoon Taidehalli, Porvoo, Finland (2022); “My mother’s name”, with Kholod Hawash, Galleria Ars Libera, Kuopio, Finland (2020); “What happens always”, Boushahri Art Gallery, Kuwait (2018); “Inkography”, Dar Al-Anda Gallery, Amman, Jordan (2017); “Dialogue degree zero II, Art Sawa, Dubai (2014); Daily life, Orfali Gallery, Amman, Jordan (2013) and “Household tunes”, Dar al-anda Gallery, Amman, Jordan (2011).
Group exhibitions selection: “Sharjah Biennial 15”, UAE (2023); “Middle East project”, Theatre Academy, University of the Arts, Helsinki, Finland (2021); “Object of Imagination”, Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (2019); Art Dubai (2016); Beirut art fair (2015); Iraqi Art, Qatara Center, Al Ain, UAE(2013); and Contemporary Iraqi art, Sultan Bin Ali Owais Establishment, Dubai, UAE (2012).
He has been a resident of Perpetuum Mobile (PM) Safe Heaven Helsinki, hosted by Artists at Risk (AR) – the Saari Residence Kone Foundation/Saastamoinen Foundation.
He has been awarded The Rescue Fund Scholarship. The Institute of International Education,
Washington, USA (2015); Expert Young Artists’ Award, Iraqi Visual Artists Society, Baghdad, Iraq. (2008); The annual contest of Ishtar -Young Artists, Visual Art Iraqi Association– Baghdad, Iraq. (2008) and The State Incentive Award, Ministry of Culture, Baghdad, Iraq. (2001)

More info: https://www.saddamjumaily.net/

Exhibition curated by Ramiro Camelo.

The exhibition is kindly supported by Suomen Kulttuurirahasto