The Apollo 40 under 40 podcast: Mohamad Hafez

Click here to go to iTunes where you can download the podcast.

In this episode of the Apollo 40 under 40 podcast (recorded at the Apollo offices in London in February 2020) Gabrielle Schwarz speaks to the artist Mohamad Hafez, who is also a trained and practising architect. The Syrian-born, US-based artist discusses his diorama-like sculptures and installations that bring together his memories of his homeland and its rich cultural heritage with the tragedy of its recent devastation. He reflects on the personally therapeutic nature of his work – and his wider mission to humanise the stories of people who have been displaced around the world.

The second series of the Apollo 40 under 40 podcast features short interviews with some of the artists, thinkers, businesspeople and patrons celebrated in this year’s Apollo 40 under 40 Middle East, presented in partnership with Deutsche Bank Wealth Management. Previous episodes can be found here.

Framed Nostalgia 1 (2019), Mohamad Hafez. Photo: Luke Hanscom; courtesy the artist

Framed Nostalgia 3 (detail; 2019), Mohamad Hafez. Photo: Luke Hanscom; courtesy the artist

Joseph: A Missing Son (2017), Mohamad Hafez. From the series ‘Unpacked: Refugee Baggage’. Photo: courtesy the artist