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Amir Youssef


Artist and filmmaker from Egypt, currently living and working between Paris and Alexandria. He earned a bachelor's degree in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Alexandria in 2015, where he also served as a Teaching Assistant. His experience at the university deepened his commitment to addressing social inequalities in access to educational and cultural resources in Alexandria, a focus that has significantly influenced his approach to both art and pedagogy. He later completed a master’s degree (DNSEP) at the Ecole d'art d'Aix-en-Provence in France, followed by a diplome at Le Fresnoy – Studio national des arts contemporains.

Amir’s work centers on exploring pre-cinema and media archaeology. He investigates the complexities of movement and narrative across various mediums, including sculpture, installation, film, and video. His long-standing fascination with transforming the function and meaning of objects, continues to shape much of his current work. This curiosity has evolved into his ongoing research on "Kinemania," a term he coined to explore the obsession with various forms of visual motion, where he translates his concepts into mobile objects.

As a Kinemania artist, Amir challenges the stillness of history displayed in museum vitrines. His work operates on two main axes: the first addresses the absurdity of war and historical events tied to post-colonialism, while the second delves into religious themes, focusing on the transformation of religious texts into poetic, transcendent forms. These works invite the public to embark on a cosmic journey of reflection and exploration.

He has exhibited his works internationally at prominent venues and festivals, including, Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria; Fondation Vasarely in Aix-en-Provence, France; Le Fresnoy’s Panorama exhibitions in Tourcoing, France; the BJCM Biennale in Milan, Italy; the Industry Textile Museum in Augsburg, Germany; the Youth Salon at the Opera House in Cairo, Egypt; and the Agenda Exhibition at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt. His recent film, Apoléon, premiered at Visions du Réel.



Awards
Prix Emergences, 2024, La Scam, Apoleon, France
Art Studio Collector prize, 2024, Jean Philippe Vernes, EMAN, film, France
Bader best short, 2024, Apoleon, film, Doha Film Insitut, Quatar
Group Exhibitions
هِسْسْ, Whispers of the Storm, Cité international des arts, Curated by Maria Ines, 2025, France
Union Libre, Memento art Space, Auch, 2024, France
Panorama 26, Le Fresnoy, 2024 curtated by Marta gili rosique, France
Panorama 25, Le Fresnoy, 2023 curtated by Chris Dercon, France
Désorientation, Vasarely Foundation, Aix-En-Provence,2023, curated by Michel Gaultier, France
Sciences Po, Aix-En-Provence, 2022, France
La Nuit des Musées, Video mapping, pavillion vendome Aix-En-Provence, 2021, France
Lab30 Festival, Augsbourg, 2021, Germany
Arselectronica, Linz, 2020, Austria
Reimagined Narratives, Art d’Egypt, 2019, Cairo
voyage voyage, Aix-en-Provence Art School, 2018, France
Biennale Milano, 2016, Italy
Youth-Salon 1st, Eltarasina gallery, Alexandria, 2015, Egypt
Youth-Salon the 26th, Opera House, 2015, Egypt
Youth salon, Saad Zaghloul Museum, 2015, Egypt
Agenda Exhibition, Bibliotheca Alexandria, 2014, Egypt
Youth-Salon the 25th, curated by Khaled Hafez, Opera House, 2014, Egypt
MASS-Alexandria Exhibition 3, Alexandria, 2013, Egypt
MASS-Alexandria Exhibition 2, Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Markaz Elebdaa, Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Caricature, Goethe institute, Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Agenda, bibliotheca Alexandria, 2012, Egypt
Atelier Alexandria, 2010, Egypt

Education


 Le Fresnoy, Studio national des arts contemporains, 2022-2024
"DNSEP" ,Ecole supérieure d’art d’Aix-en-Provence, France, 2022.
Exchange Semseter - University of Art&Design Linz, Austria 2020.
"DNA" ,Ecole supérieure d’art d’Aix-en-Provence, France, 2019.  
Bachelor of Painting, Facuty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University, 2015.


Residencies

104, Paris, France, 2025
In Situ, La Cité international des arts , France, 2024/2025
BJCEM biennale, Milano, Italy, June-July 2015
March Meeting , Sharjah art Foundation, March-April 2014
Documenta13, Artist assistant June –July, 2012
MASS-Alexandria, curated by Daniella Rose King, 2012/2014

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