A sculptor, painter, urban artist and architect working from Beirut, with a background that fuses Oriental and Japanese theories of space, Nadim Karam has developed his own concepts, based on ideas like “micro pluralism”, “the architecture of performance”, and “story-telling architecture”.
Nadim Karam’s production of work across disciplines is an optimistic act of rebellion, as well as an affirmation of the power of creativity against the tedium, soullessness or terror that at one time or another afflicts our lives and cities: his work focuses on re-examining contextual issues with a global significance and relevancy, it engages in enhancing perceptions of pluralism and difference within a society as a source of enrichment rather than a reason for conflict.
With Atelier Hapsitus, the pluri-disciplinary group he founded in Beirut, he has realized urban interventions internationally, both temporary and permanent, in cities as diverse as Melbourne, Prague, Dubai, Beirut, London, Tokyo and Nara, Japan, exploring the use of public art as an instrument of urban activation and regeneration.
Nadim Karam was selected in 2002 by the UN as co-chairman of the conference on the reconstruction of Kabul and by the first Rotterdam Biennale as the curator for Lebanon. He has held academic positions in Tokyo and Beirut, and gives lectures internationally.
Education
-1989 Doctor of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture & Engineering, University of Tokyo
-1985 Master of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture & Engineering, University of Tokyo
-1982 Bachelor of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut
Academic positions
-2003-4 Visiting associate professor, American University of Beirut
-2000-3 Dean of Faculty of Architecture Art & Design, Notre-Dame University
-1995-6 Visiting researcher, University of Tokyo
-1993-5 Visiting assistant professor, American University of Beirut
-1994 Visiting lecturer at Sci-Arc, Vico Morcote, Switzerland
Selected public art installations
-2019 Grasping the World -Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi, UAE
-2018 The Path of Reflection- Shaikh Abdullah Al Salam Cultural Center, Kuwait
-2017 Penguins Cascade- Suzhou Center- Suzhou, China
Wheels of innovation – Nissan Headquarters – Tokyo, Japan
Trio Elephants – Lover’s Park- Yerevan, Armenia
-2016 Stretching Thoughts: Shepherd and Thinker- UWC Atlantic College, Wales, UK
-2011 Dialogue of the Hills- Amman, Jordan (in progress)
-2008 The Cloud of Dubai- Dubai, UAE (in progress)
-2007 The Transients- Dubai Art Fair, Dubai, UAE
-2006 The Travelers- Sandridge Bridge, Melbourne, Australia
-2004 The Three Magic Flowers of Jitchu- Kagami Lake, Todaiji Temple, Nara, Japan
-2000-3 Notting Hill Stories- Notting Hill Gate, London, UK
-2000-2 Nakameguro- Nakameguro complex, Tokyo, Japan
-2001 101 Water Sprites- lakes of Mile End Millennium Park, London, UK
-1997-0 The Archaic Procession- Beirut Central District, Beirut, Lebanon
-1997 T-Race’s PCB-137- Manes Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic
-1995 The Carrier- National Museum, Beirut, Lebanon
-1994 T-Race’s BSC-4971- Sursock Museum, Beirut, Lebanon
Selected solo exhibitions, installations & performances
-2017 “Compressed Thoughts”- Ayyam Gallery Dubai, Al-Serkal Avenue, UAE
-2017 “Urban Stories” – The Fine Art Society, London, UK
-2016 “Stretching Thoughts”- Ayyam Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
-2013 “99 Objects possible to find on a Cloud”- Ayyam Gallery, Dubai, UAE
“Shooting the Cloud”- Ayyam Gallery, London, UK
-2008 “The Fisherman fishing from a Cloud”- Creek Art Fair, Dubai, UAE
“Clouds & Chairs”- Sultan Gallery, Kuwait City, Kuwait
-2002 “101 archaic procession elements”- rooftop installation, Leeds, UK
-2001 “The Giraffe, The Wild Cat & the apparently Digested Objects”- UNESCO, Beirut, Lebanon
“Solfeggio 101”- Portside Gallery, Yokohama, Japan
-1998 “Hilarious Beirut”- Venice Institute of Architecture, Venice, Italy
-1997 “Hilarious Beirut”- Berlin Technical University, Berlin, Germany
“T-Races PCB-137”- Manes Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic
-1996 “T-Races PCB-137”- Bartlett School of Architecture, London, UK
-1992 “Spinning Caves”- Formes Gallery, Tokyo & Kikukawa Gallery, Oita, Japan
-1991 “The Carrier”- Marunouchi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
-1990 “Temple of the Obelisks”- Sagacho Exhibit Space, Tokyo, Japan
“Intercrossings”- IMA project exhibition & performance, French-Japanese Institute of
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
-1987 “Architectural Crisis” performance- Cealacanth House, Osaka, Japan
“Celebration of Life: The Funeral”- Spiral Garden, Tokyo, Japan
-1986 “Micropluralism”- Striped House Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
Selected group exhibitions
-2019 “Politics of Dialogue: The Merry-Go-Round”, part of PERSONAL STRUCTURES 2019 exhibition, European Cultural Centre, Venice
-2018 “Art & Jewelry”- Custot Gallery, Dubai, UAE
-2016 Art Dubai- Dubai, UAE
-2015 Art Abu Dhabi- Abu Dhabi, UAE
-2014 JISP Biennale 2014- Jing An Sculpture Park, Shanghai, China Art Dubai- Dubai, UAE
-2013 Art Dubai- Dubai, UAE
-2012 “25 years of Arab Creativity”- Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA), Paris, France
-2011 Abu Dhabi Art Fair- Abu Dhabi, UAE
“Subtitled: with Narratives from Lebanon”- Royal College of Art, London, UK
“Chatsworth Beyond Limits”- Sotheby’s, London, UK
“Dial 911 for the New Middle East”- Running Horse Contemporary Art Space, Beirut, Lebanon
-2010 “Convergence”- American University Museum, Katzen Arts Centre, Washington, USA
Art Hong Kong- Hong Kong, China
Istanbul Contemporary- Istanbul, Turkey
Miami International Art Fair- Miami, USA
-2009 Scope Basel- Basel, Switzerland
-2008 Art Paris Abu Dhabi- Abu Dhabi, UAE
-2006 Independents Biennale- Liverpool, UK
-2003 “Renewing, Rebuilding, Remembering”- The Lighthouse, Glasgow, Scotland
-2002 “Renewing, Rebuilding, Remembering”- Van Alen Institute, New York, USA
-2001 ST-ART, Contemporary Art Fair-Strasbourg, France
-1996 "Looking Glass of a Nation"- South Korean pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale,
Venice, Italy
-1995 Kwangju Biennale of Art- Kwangju, South Korea
-1993 Nippon International Contemporary Art Fair (NICAF)- Yokohama, Japan
“Geopolitics”- Inspiration Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
-1992 Tokyo International Art Fair- Tokyo, Japan
-1991 “Asian Art Road”- Korean Cultural Centre, Tokyo, Japan
Lectures
Lectured worldwide at renowned universities and institutions
Books and Special Issue
-2018 Being Nadim Karam, Selections Magazine, Special Edition #46, Fall 2018, Beirut
-2014 Stretching Thoughts, Booth Clibborn Editions, London
-2007 The Cloud, the Desert and the Arabian Breeze, Booth-Clibborn Editions, London
-2006 Urban Toys, Booth-Clibborn Editions, London
-2000 Voyage, Booth-Clibborn Editions, London