The Royal West Of England Academy in Bristol is hosting an exhibition Conscious Forms that celebrates the pioneering work of artist, curator and activist Rasheed Araeen. As part of a triple bill of exhibitions honoring global artists, this exhibition brings Araeen's visionary work to Bristol for the first time.
Curated by University of Bristol art historians Dr. Zehra Jumabhoy and Dr. Elizabeth Robles, the heart of Conscious Forms is an impressive array of Araeen's bright, abstract sculptures filling the RWA's daylit galleries. Visitors are invited to interact with these sculptures, sitting on and reconfiguring the colorful cubes arranged around a central "Reading Room'' installation. These sculptural works draw inspiration from Araeen's background in engineering as well as his immersion in Islamic geometry and architecture. Alongside the abstract sculptures, the exhibition features Araeen's figurative paintings and collages dating from the 1950s to the present day. These works offer Araeen's fearless and original take on ideas of British identity, belonging and migration. Visitors are invited to engage with work that is both celebratory and provocative, filled with joy and demanding to be seen, heard and experienced.
Conscious Forms will be on view from May 25th - August 11th, 2024
