Iraqi artist Mohammed Sami to take over Blenheim Palace

Gareth Harris for the Art Newspaper has reported, that Iraqi artist Mohammed Sami, who grew up under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, will have a solo exhibition this summer at Blenheim Palace, the 18th-century stately home located in Oxfordshire in the UK (9 July-20 October). 

“For the exhibition, Sami will develop an entirely new body of work, building on recurring themes and imagery within his practice, as well as drawing inspiration from the history and collection of Blenheim Palace,” a project statement says. 

According to The Guardian, Sami lived through "the Iran-Iraq conflict, two Gulf wars, the US-led invasion and sectarian violence"; he emigrated to Sweden in 2007 as a refugee and later studied at Goldsmiths college, University of London. “The things I articulate in my artwork are memories hidden in the brain cells that are waiting for a trigger,” he said. In 2023, he had a solo exhibition at Camden Art Centre, London. 

The Sami show is the ninth contemporary art exhibition to be held at the palace. Previous exhibitions have been dedicated to Yves Klein, Maurizio Cattelan, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Jenny Holzer, Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, Lawrence Weiner and Tino Sehgal. All of the exhibitions are organised by the Blenheim Art Foundation.