Born in Cairo (Egypt) in 1995, Engy Mohsen
is an artist, architect and
graphic designer.
Her work examines notions of ‘participation’ and ‘collectivity’ by creating frameworks that invite non-artists and artists to think about how spaces can be organized to include the ‘other’. While spatial thinking remains at the core of her interdisciplinary practice, she works—solo and collaboratively—with text, drawing, photography, performance, discursive acts and conversation as a medium. Mohsen is one of the five founding members of
K-oh-llective, an online platform that provides resources and facilitates conversations between art practitioners in Egypt and the Arab world.
She was most recently resident at Rote Fabrik, Zürich 2021, and forthcoming at Art OMI, New York 2022. She was the recipient of many grants; AFAC Visual Arts Grant, Mophradat Artists Grant, Visual Arts: A Flourishing Field Grant, Pro Helvetia’s Parallel Sphere, Warehouse421’sProject Revival Fund, Art Jameel Research and Practice Grant, among others.
She was most recently resident at Rote Fabrik, Zürich 2021, and forthcoming at Art OMI, New York 2022. She was the recipient of many grants; AFAC Visual Arts Grant, Mophradat Artists Grant, Visual Arts: A Flourishing Field Grant, Pro Helvetia’s Parallel Sphere, Warehouse421’sProject Revival Fund, Art Jameel Research and Practice Grant, among others.
Education
︎︎︎ 2018 -
Pre-Masters,
Urban Design, German University in Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ 2018/13 - B.Sc. Architecture, German University in Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ 2017 - Bachelor thesis, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus–Senftenberg, DE.
Studio & Study Programs
︎︎︎ 2022 - School of Commons, READ Lab, Zürich, CH/Online.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Artists for Artists (AfA) Masterclass: Radical Care, Online.
︎︎︎ 2019 - MASS Alexandria Independent Studio/Study Program, Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ 2018 - Roznama 6 Studio Program, Cairo, EG.
Grants & Awards
︎︎︎ 2022 - School of Commons, Project Grant.
︎︎︎ 2021 - AFAC, Visual Arts Grant Program with Souakina Joual.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Residency Production Grant, Pro Helvetia Cairo.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Production grant, A.M Qattan Foundation, VAFF Project.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Mophradat, Grants for Artists with Souakina Joual.
︎︎︎ 2021 - All-Round Culture, Youth-led Initiatives, as Dataland.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Wijhat travel grant, Culture Resource.
︎︎︎ 2021 - General mobility grant, Fanak Fund.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Self-Organizations, Mophradat, as K-oh-llective.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Homebound Residency Production Grant , Warehouse421.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Parallel Sphere production grant, Pro Helvetia Cairo.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Project Revival Fund, Warehouse421.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Art Jameel Research and Practice Platform.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Production grant, A.M Qattan Foundation, VAFF Project.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Grants to Artists, British Council Cairo.
︎︎︎ 2019 - Villa Vassilieff - Pernod Ricard Fellowship. (shortlisted)
︎︎︎ 2019 - Grants for Artists, Mophradat.
︎︎︎ 2019 - Roznama 7, Solo Exhibition Prize by Soma Art Gallery.
︎︎︎ 2014 - 25th Youth Salon, Collection Prize by CIB Bank.
Residencies
︎︎︎ 2022 - ART OMI Residency for Artists, New York, USA. (deferred ︎︎︎ 2020)
︎︎︎ 2021 - Rote Fabrik, Pro Helvetia Studio Residency, Zürich, CH. ︎︎︎ 2020 - Homebound Residency, organized by Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
︎︎︎ 2020 - YARAT Contemporary Art Space, Baku, AZ. (cancelled)
︎︎︎ 2020 - The Lab at Darat Al Funun, Amman, JO. (cancelled)
︎︎︎ 2020 - Triangle France - Astérides, Marseille, FR. (shortlisted)
Public Events & Workshops
︎︎︎ 2021 - “Zürich Art Weekend”, open studio at Rote Fabrik.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “How To Love Many In Many Ways”, workshops in Zürich.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “Shish Bish”, Workshop by Makouk and Medrar.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Live Praxes #2: “Written to be Spoken” by Mohamed Abdelkarim.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “Qaaf Laam in the Chatroom”, online discussion with Noor Abed.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts”, Bamako Biennial public program.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “Food Ethnogtaphy Workshop” workshop with Mai Amer, CiC.
︎︎︎ 2018 - “The Land Speaks to you in Signs” workshop with Ala Yunis, Zawya.
︎︎︎ 2017 - “Naeema’s Office is Bleeding” workshop with Hany Rashed, Medrar.
Publications
︎︎︎ 2022 - “OTTSASWEGO”, edited by Cindy Sissokho and Soukaina Aboulaoula.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “Notes on Collaboration”, edited by Mai El Wakil.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “The Thelos Society Earth” Issue I, edited by Georgia Kotretsos.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “Chatrooms: On Curating Spaces”, edited by Nour El Safoury.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “No ISBN: On Self-Publishing”, by Bernard Cella, Wael Ashry, Kayfa ta.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “Chatrooms: A Guidebook to Discursive Spaces”, self-published.
︎︎︎ 2018 - “Roznama 6”, booklet edited by N. El Safoury and M. Abdelkarim.
︎︎︎ 2018 - “Robabecciah: The Informal City”, Egyptian National Pavilion, 16th Venice Biennale of Architecture, edited by Mouaz Abozaid and Eslam El Mashtooly.
Press
︎︎︎ 2022 - “A Game is a Great Excuse”, Interview by C. Neugebauer & N. Unfer.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “How To Love Many In Many Ways”, Fabrikzeitung, CH.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “How To Love Many In Many Ways”, KulturZüri, CH.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “AfA Open Studios Week 6”, In conversation with Georgia Kotretsos.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Systems of Subtleties by Ash Moniz, Mada Masr, EG.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “Roznama 6 Studio Program”, Public Discussions, MedrarTV, EG.
︎︎︎ 2018 - Art Alert: Performance Art at Roznama Studio, Ahram Online, EG.
︎︎︎ 2018/13 - B.Sc. Architecture, German University in Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ 2017 - Bachelor thesis, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus–Senftenberg, DE.
Studio & Study Programs
︎︎︎ 2022 - School of Commons, READ Lab, Zürich, CH/Online.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Artists for Artists (AfA) Masterclass: Radical Care, Online.
︎︎︎ 2019 - MASS Alexandria Independent Studio/Study Program, Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ 2018 - Roznama 6 Studio Program, Cairo, EG.
Grants & Awards
︎︎︎ 2022 - School of Commons, Project Grant.
︎︎︎ 2021 - AFAC, Visual Arts Grant Program with Souakina Joual.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Residency Production Grant, Pro Helvetia Cairo.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Production grant, A.M Qattan Foundation, VAFF Project.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Mophradat, Grants for Artists with Souakina Joual.
︎︎︎ 2021 - All-Round Culture, Youth-led Initiatives, as Dataland.
︎︎︎ 2021 - Wijhat travel grant, Culture Resource.
︎︎︎ 2021 - General mobility grant, Fanak Fund.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Self-Organizations, Mophradat, as K-oh-llective.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Homebound Residency Production Grant , Warehouse421.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Parallel Sphere production grant, Pro Helvetia Cairo.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Project Revival Fund, Warehouse421.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Art Jameel Research and Practice Platform.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Production grant, A.M Qattan Foundation, VAFF Project.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Grants to Artists, British Council Cairo.
︎︎︎ 2019 - Villa Vassilieff - Pernod Ricard Fellowship. (shortlisted)
︎︎︎ 2019 - Grants for Artists, Mophradat.
︎︎︎ 2019 - Roznama 7, Solo Exhibition Prize by Soma Art Gallery.
︎︎︎ 2014 - 25th Youth Salon, Collection Prize by CIB Bank.
Residencies
︎︎︎ 2022 - ART OMI Residency for Artists, New York, USA. (deferred ︎︎︎ 2020)
︎︎︎ 2021 - Rote Fabrik, Pro Helvetia Studio Residency, Zürich, CH. ︎︎︎ 2020 - Homebound Residency, organized by Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
︎︎︎ 2020 - YARAT Contemporary Art Space, Baku, AZ. (cancelled)
︎︎︎ 2020 - The Lab at Darat Al Funun, Amman, JO. (cancelled)
︎︎︎ 2020 - Triangle France - Astérides, Marseille, FR. (shortlisted)
Public Events & Workshops
︎︎︎ 2021 - “Zürich Art Weekend”, open studio at Rote Fabrik.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “How To Love Many In Many Ways”, workshops in Zürich.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “Shish Bish”, Workshop by Makouk and Medrar.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Live Praxes #2: “Written to be Spoken” by Mohamed Abdelkarim.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “Qaaf Laam in the Chatroom”, online discussion with Noor Abed.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts”, Bamako Biennial public program.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “Food Ethnogtaphy Workshop” workshop with Mai Amer, CiC.
︎︎︎ 2018 - “The Land Speaks to you in Signs” workshop with Ala Yunis, Zawya.
︎︎︎ 2017 - “Naeema’s Office is Bleeding” workshop with Hany Rashed, Medrar.
Publications
︎︎︎ 2022 - “OTTSASWEGO”, edited by Cindy Sissokho and Soukaina Aboulaoula.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “Notes on Collaboration”, edited by Mai El Wakil.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “The Thelos Society Earth” Issue I, edited by Georgia Kotretsos.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “Chatrooms: On Curating Spaces”, edited by Nour El Safoury.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “No ISBN: On Self-Publishing”, by Bernard Cella, Wael Ashry, Kayfa ta.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “Chatrooms: A Guidebook to Discursive Spaces”, self-published.
︎︎︎ 2018 - “Roznama 6”, booklet edited by N. El Safoury and M. Abdelkarim.
︎︎︎ 2018 - “Robabecciah: The Informal City”, Egyptian National Pavilion, 16th Venice Biennale of Architecture, edited by Mouaz Abozaid and Eslam El Mashtooly.
Press
︎︎︎ 2022 - “A Game is a Great Excuse”, Interview by C. Neugebauer & N. Unfer.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “How To Love Many In Many Ways”, Fabrikzeitung, CH.
︎︎︎ 2021 - “How To Love Many In Many Ways”, KulturZüri, CH.
︎︎︎ 2020 - “AfA Open Studios Week 6”, In conversation with Georgia Kotretsos.
︎︎︎ 2020 - Systems of Subtleties by Ash Moniz, Mada Masr, EG.
︎︎︎ 2019 - “Roznama 6 Studio Program”, Public Discussions, MedrarTV, EG.
︎︎︎ 2018 - Art Alert: Performance Art at Roznama Studio, Ahram Online, EG.
Group Exhibitions & Performances
2022
︎︎︎ “Radical Projects! The Classroom & Beyond” - Tasmeem Doha, VCUarts, QA.
︎︎︎ “Longing for Community” - curated by Aline Lenzhofer, SumacSpace, online.
︎︎︎ “Longing for Community” - curated by Aline Lenzhofer, Fluc & Fluc , AT.
︎︎︎ “100 Best Arabic Posters” - Saudi Design Festival (SA), Bibliotheca Alexandrina (EG).
2021
︎︎︎ “Art as Connection” - with Mohamed Abdelkarim, Kunsthaus Aargau, CH.
︎︎︎ “Bad Mother” - with Rania Atef, About Us! Festival, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ “Embodied Encounters” - with Shahd Omar, Blackbox Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ “But these forms need to be created” - Khalil Sakakini Center, Ramallah, PA.
︎︎︎ “Remote Closeness” - Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman, JO.
︎︎︎ “Notes on Collaboration” - Contemporary Image Collective, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Shish Bish” - Game-based exhibition by Medrar and Makouk, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Cairo Prints Exhibition - Edition II” - Cairopolitan, Institut français d'Égypte, IFAO - Institut français d'archéologie orientale, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “100 Best Arabic Posters” - Tahrir Cultural Center (EG), Warehouse421 (UAE), and Cultuurcentrum Ter Dilft (BE).
2020
︎︎︎ “Open Studios” - Artists for Artists IG takeover with Gabriel Hensche, DE.
︎︎︎ “Lichtblick” - Kunsthalle at Hamburger Platz, Berlin, DE.
︎︎︎ "Quarantine: A Capsule" - film by Rozeen Bisharat, FilmLab Palestine, DE/PA.
︎︎︎ “With Doors Closed, Artists Go Viral” - Medrar, Cairo, EG/online.
︎︎︎ “The Artist at Work” - Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre, Ramallah, PA.
︎︎︎ “No ISBN” - project by Bernhard Cella, MMAG Foundation, Amman, JO.
2019
︎︎︎ “No ISBN” - project by Bernhard Cella, Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
︎︎︎ “End of Year Exhibition” - MASS Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “No ISBN” - project by Bernhard Cella, Beirut Art Centre, Beirut, LB.
︎︎︎ “The Other Side of the Sea” - performance with Alia Farid, Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “Roznama 7” - Townhouse Gallery, Cairo, EG.
2018 ︎︎︎ “More Stories” - Cairo Photo Week, EG.
︎︎︎ “Waiting” - Cavafy Museum with Laima Kreivyte, by MASS Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “The Act of Conversing in a Space that Remembers” - Roznama Studio, EG.
︎︎︎ “Robabecciah: The Informal City” - Egyptian National Pavilion, 16th Venice Biennale of Architecture, Venice, IT.
2017
︎︎︎ “Naeema’s Office is Bleeding” - Medrar for Contemporary Art, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Mahmoud Kahil Award Exhibition” - American University in Beirut, LB.
2016
︎︎︎ “Out of the Fridge 3” - 3rd Koshk Stand, American University in Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “27th Youth Salon” - Palace of Arts, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Shamareekh” - CairoComix Festival, American University in Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “CairoSaturdayWalks” - the Egyptian Cultural Centre in London, UK.
︎︎︎ “Metre x Metre: a free space for creativity” - Bibliotheca Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “CairoSaturdayWalks” - Photopia and Makan, Cairo, EG.
2015
︎︎︎ “Dutch Houses” - The Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC), EG.
︎︎︎ “25th Youth Salon” - Palace of Arts, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Frozen in Time” - Photopia, Cairo, EG.
2022
︎︎︎ “Radical Projects! The Classroom & Beyond” - Tasmeem Doha, VCUarts, QA.
︎︎︎ “Longing for Community” - curated by Aline Lenzhofer, SumacSpace, online.
︎︎︎ “Longing for Community” - curated by Aline Lenzhofer, Fluc & Fluc , AT.
︎︎︎ “100 Best Arabic Posters” - Saudi Design Festival (SA), Bibliotheca Alexandrina (EG).
2021
︎︎︎ “Art as Connection” - with Mohamed Abdelkarim, Kunsthaus Aargau, CH.
︎︎︎ “Bad Mother” - with Rania Atef, About Us! Festival, Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ “Embodied Encounters” - with Shahd Omar, Blackbox Zürich, CH.
︎︎︎ “But these forms need to be created” - Khalil Sakakini Center, Ramallah, PA.
︎︎︎ “Remote Closeness” - Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman, JO.
︎︎︎ “Notes on Collaboration” - Contemporary Image Collective, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Shish Bish” - Game-based exhibition by Medrar and Makouk, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Cairo Prints Exhibition - Edition II” - Cairopolitan, Institut français d'Égypte, IFAO - Institut français d'archéologie orientale, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “100 Best Arabic Posters” - Tahrir Cultural Center (EG), Warehouse421 (UAE), and Cultuurcentrum Ter Dilft (BE).
2020
︎︎︎ “Open Studios” - Artists for Artists IG takeover with Gabriel Hensche, DE.
︎︎︎ “Lichtblick” - Kunsthalle at Hamburger Platz, Berlin, DE.
︎︎︎ "Quarantine: A Capsule" - film by Rozeen Bisharat, FilmLab Palestine, DE/PA.
︎︎︎ “With Doors Closed, Artists Go Viral” - Medrar, Cairo, EG/online.
︎︎︎ “The Artist at Work” - Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre, Ramallah, PA.
︎︎︎ “No ISBN” - project by Bernhard Cella, MMAG Foundation, Amman, JO.
2019
︎︎︎ “No ISBN” - project by Bernhard Cella, Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
︎︎︎ “End of Year Exhibition” - MASS Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “No ISBN” - project by Bernhard Cella, Beirut Art Centre, Beirut, LB.
︎︎︎ “The Other Side of the Sea” - performance with Alia Farid, Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “Roznama 7” - Townhouse Gallery, Cairo, EG.
2018 ︎︎︎ “More Stories” - Cairo Photo Week, EG.
︎︎︎ “Waiting” - Cavafy Museum with Laima Kreivyte, by MASS Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “The Act of Conversing in a Space that Remembers” - Roznama Studio, EG.
︎︎︎ “Robabecciah: The Informal City” - Egyptian National Pavilion, 16th Venice Biennale of Architecture, Venice, IT.
2017
︎︎︎ “Naeema’s Office is Bleeding” - Medrar for Contemporary Art, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Mahmoud Kahil Award Exhibition” - American University in Beirut, LB.
2016
︎︎︎ “Out of the Fridge 3” - 3rd Koshk Stand, American University in Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “27th Youth Salon” - Palace of Arts, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Shamareekh” - CairoComix Festival, American University in Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “CairoSaturdayWalks” - the Egyptian Cultural Centre in London, UK.
︎︎︎ “Metre x Metre: a free space for creativity” - Bibliotheca Alexandria, EG.
︎︎︎ “CairoSaturdayWalks” - Photopia and Makan, Cairo, EG.
2015
︎︎︎ “Dutch Houses” - The Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC), EG.
︎︎︎ “25th Youth Salon” - Palace of Arts, Cairo, EG.
︎︎︎ “Frozen in Time” - Photopia, Cairo, EG.