Khaled Barakeh (خالد برکه)

Born in 1976 in Damascus Suburb, and currently based in Berlin, Khaled Barakeh graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus, Syria in 2005, completed his MFA at Funen Art Academy in Odense, Denmark in 2010 and finished his Meisterschueler at the Städelschule Art Academy in Frankfurt a.M, Germany in 2013. During his stay in Europe Barakeh, originally trained as a painter, has developed a stronger concentration on conceptual art practices. Today he works in a variety of media, focusing on the current and pertinent issues, often revolving around politics and power structures in context of identity, culture and history. He has exhibited at the Künstlerhaus Stuttgart; Shanghai Biennale; Salt Istanbul; Kunsthalle Brandts, Overgaden Denmark; Frankfurter Kunstverein; Artspace New Zealand and many other institutions and venues around the world.

A former calligrapher, the conceptual artist Khaled Barakeh always cites his visit to Paris’s Palais de Tokyo in 2005 as his introduction to the world of contemporary art—a far cry from the traditional art practices of his native Syria. It was a moment of “artistic shock,” as Barakeh once said, which led him to pursue a master’s degree in art in Europe.

Barakeh has since taken on the role of cultural activist, fighting social injustice and advocating for fellow artists of the Syrian diaspora through managing several platforms including the Syria Cultural Index and Syrian Biennale.

Artistically, Barakeh’s body of work is bold and offers thought-provoking statements. He delves into topical themes of migration, exile, and displacement. A multimedia practitioner, his works—like an installation of rubber stamps and a work on paper made from granted visas and denials—remind the viewer of the complexities of bureaucracy that control a person’s sense of movement and being.Recently Barakeh started a new initiative called Syria Cultural Index, dedicated to mapping and connecting the Syrian artistic community around the globe and showcasing their work to wider audience.