Between the military & the art | عبدالناصر غارم l Abdulnasser Gharem | TEDxPrinceSultanU

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Gharem is the highest selling living Gulf artist. Born in 1973 in the Saudi Arabian city of Khamis Mushait, where he continues to live and work today. In 1992 Gharem graduated from the King Abdulaziz Academy before attending The Leader Institute in Riyadh. In 2003 he studied at the influential Al- Meftaha Arts Village in Abha and in 2004 Gharem and the Al-Meftaha artists staged a group exhibition, Shattah, which challenged existing modes of art practice in Saudi Arabia. Since then Gharem has exhibited in Europe, the Gulf and the USA, including at Martin Gropius-Bau and at the Venice, Sharjah & Berlin Biennales. He recently made history when his installation Message/Messenger sold for a world record price at auction in Dubai, establishing Gharem as the highest selling living Gulf artist. Gharem donated the proceeds of this sale to Edge of Arabia to foster art education in his native country. His first monograph ‘Abdulnasser Gharem: Art of Survival’ was published in London in October 2011. About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)