Hamid Zénati's 'All-Over' Aesthetic Explored at Nottingham Contemporary

Nottingham Contemporary is showcasing 'Hamid Zénati: Two Steps at a Time', the second institutional exhibition of the late Algerian-German artist, which will be on display until 8 September. This exhibition highlights Zénati's extensive 60-year journey in ceramics, fashion, textiles, photography, and wearable art. Born in Algeria in 1944, he relocated to Munich following Algeria's independence in 1962, creating a 'diasporic aesthetic'. Curated alongside Sheyda Aisha Khaymaz, the exhibit features an Algerian majlis setup for enjoying Zénati's CD collection, along with flea-market dishes, fabric paintings, and textile creations. The design influences draw from Northern Africa and Japan, while the plinths evoke the dunes of the Algerian Sahara, with minimal labels enhanced by archival materials that situate Zénati within postcolonial Algerian art movements.