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Born to an Italian Catholic mother and an Egyptian Muslim father, Omar Hassan grew up immersed in two distinct cultures that instilled in him a predisposition for dialogue, tolerance, and innovation. There is no more fitting venue for his work than Palazzo Reale, a factory of ideas since the time of Frederick II and home to the magnificent Palatine Chapel, a quintessential symbol of cultural integration.
Concept and action are at the heart of Hassan’s artistic expression. Fascinated by time, he bases his research on synthesized pictorial gestures capable of tracing it, drawing inspiration from great masters like Fontana, Pollock, and Manzoni, whose energetic gestures encapsulate new philosophies or concepts.
Hassan’s forms of expression evolve into distinct “themes,” marked by experimentation with color and gesture: the punch in the Breaking Through series, which earned him global recognition as the "artist-boxer"; the spray paint in the Injections and Lights series. At 36, Hassan’s artistic journey continues to evolve. Following exhibitions in Miami, New York, London, Berlin, and Milan, he now arrives in Palermo with PUNCTUM, an exhibition conceived in collaboration with the Fondazione Federico II, running from March 24 to October 1 at Palazzo Reale.
PUNCTUM represents the artist’s vital energy, making each artwork unique. The exhibition explores the liminal space between classicism and contemporaneity, connecting the past and future. It is a tribute to “the value of the individual as part of a serene and harmonious whole.”
Central to this theme is the "Mappa di Palermo", a work created specifically for the exhibition, composed of 8,928 spray can caps, each hand-painted by the artist. With an anti-hierarchical approach, Hassan emphasizes the significance of places, conceived as true centers of aggregation and sharing.
"Through a dialogue between the complexity of places and works of art," says Gaetano Galvagno, President of the Fondazione Federico II, "we propose a new narrative and welcome one of the contemporary art witnesses of our time. This reflects the Foundation’s cultural intent to foster dialogue between a space of memory and contemporary art while promoting the works of an artist whose production is marked by strong energy, vitality, and action. Hassan’s work embraces the tradition of classical art, reinterpreting it to offer a refreshed perspective.”
"PUNCTUM at Palazzo Reale," adds Patrizia Monterosso, Director General of the Fondazione Federico II, "aims to embody art in motion, providing nourishment to the energy that makes the artist, and life itself, so vibrant. The exhibition stems from an authentic dialogue between Omar and the Fondazione Federico II, which once again rejects pre-packaged exhibitions. Omar Hassan is a symbol of tolerance and artistic representation in the truest sense, seamlessly integrating with the spirit of this palace—a well-executed historical laboratory—by creating a bridge between past and future."
"Palermo" is one of seven site-specific works created by Omar Hassan for PUNCTUM. Among them is "Pax", a sculpture that boldly reinterprets the Nike of Samothrace as a symbol of peace.
Born and raised on the outskirts of Milan, Hassan recalls how he managed to rise above a world where other potential talents remained unrealized, generating only “sitting dreams.” He reveals, “In my household, not achieving results was equivalent to failure.” This sentiment is documented in an exclusive dialogue with the Fondazione Federico II, included in the exhibition catalog.
Alongside his artistic pursuits, Hassan practiced boxing for years, a discipline he was forced to abandon for health reasons. His Breaking Through series, also featured in the exhibition, encapsulates the synthesis of gesture: the punch becomes a symbol of creation, not destruction. "I’m not punching to destroy; I’m creating," he states.
This seamless flow between art and life defines Hassan’s work, which is rich in autobiographical elements, from the themes of his pieces to his progressively refined techniques. For Hassan, color serves to capture the viewer’s attention, but the true meaning of his work lies beneath the surface. His use of canvas aligns with the contemporary crisis of easel painting, while the lexical layering and the dissolution of hierarchies between painting and sculpture characterize his distinctive style. Hassan’s work is deeply rooted in ancient art and historical traditions yet strives toward the future and the new.
Hassan enjoys exploring the artistic languages of site-specificity, installation, painting, and sculpture, often creating a meaningful dialogue between these forms. The Sala Duca di Montalto within Palazzo Reale is being prepared to engage "live" with Omar Hassan’s artistic energy—and vice versa.
