Egyptian artist Moataz Nasr explores traditions and new globalism, questioning geopolitical and social development in the Middle East and Africa. Using his artistic practice as a language that embraces sociology, spirituality and history in order to encourage dialogue across geographical boundaries. Nasr’s most recent group exhibitions include The Sea Is My Land, MAXXI, Rome, 2013; Metropolis: Afriques Capitales, La Villette, Paris, 2017; Senses of Time: Video and Film-based Arts of Africa, LACMA Los Angeles and The Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts, Washington D.C., 2017. In 2018 the artist was invited to participate in the Yinchuan Biennale, China, as well as the International Contemporary Art Exhibition (ICAE2018) in Yerevan, Armenia. Nasr’s most recent solo exhibitions include: The Tunnel, Galleria Continua / Beijing, 2012 and Avalanche, Galleria Continua / Les Moulins, 2016. In 2017, Nasr was been selected to represent Egypt at the prestigious 57th Venice Biennale. The work presented in the Egyptian Pavilion was an immersive installation showing the original film The Mountain. In 2018, he has been invited to take part to "Abu Dhabi Art 2018 Beyond" and create a site-specific work in in Al Ain, UAE.
In addition to his artistic practice, Moataz Nasr is the founder of Darb 1718, a non-profit arts and culture space in Cairo which hosts a programme of events, such as film screenings and workshops that aims to expand dialogue through community engagement and outreach. Darb 1718 has also established a comprehensive database of Egyptian, Middle Eastern and North African art.