Amir Youssef

Film

The film's narrative encompasses the deteriorating diorama of Napoleon and the Sphinx.

A group of figurines from the Military Museum of Paris join Napoleon on his expedition to Egypt. As the figurines embark on their journey, they discover the broken nose of the Sphinx, leading to a surreal interaction between Napoleon and the monument. By blending past and present, the film explores political issues related to militarism and colonisation, and challenges traditional historical narratives.

Amir Youssef

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Artist and filmmaker from Egypt, currently living and working between Paris and Alexandria. He earned a bachelor's degree in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Alexandria in 2015, where he also served as a Teaching Assistant. His experience at the university deepened his commitment to addressing social inequalities in access to educational and cultural resources in Alexandria, a focus that has significantly influenced his approach to both art and pedagogy. He later completed a master’s degree (DNSEP) at the Ecole d'art d'Aix-en-Provence in France, followed by a diplome at Le Fresnoy – Studio national des arts contemporains.

Amir’s work centers on exploring pre-cinema and media archaeology. He investigates the complexities of movement and narrative across various mediums, including sculpture, installation, film, and video. His long-standing fascination with transforming the function and meaning of objects, continues to shape much of his current work. This curiosity has evolved into his ongoing research on "Kinemania," a term he coined to explore the obsession with various forms of visual motion, where he translates his concepts into mobile objects.

As a Kinemania artist, Amir challenges the stillness of history displayed in museum vitrines. His work operates on two main axes: the first addresses the absurdity of war and historical events tied to post-colonialism, while the second delves into religious themes, focusing on the transformation of religious texts into poetic, transcendent forms. These works invite the public to embark on a cosmic journey of reflection and exploration.

He has exhibited his works internationally at prominent venues and festivals, including Visions du Réel in Switzerland, Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria; Fondation Vasarely in Aix-en-Provence, France; Le Fresnoy’s Panorama exhibitions in Tourcoing, France; the BJCM Biennale in Milan, Italy; the Industry Textile Museum in Augsburg, Germany; the Youth Salon at the Opera House in Cairo, Egypt; and the Agenda Exhibition at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt. His recent film, Apoléon, premiered at Visions du Réel.

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