Curator
Writer
Entrepreneur
Biography
Salem AlSuwaidi is an Emirati writer and curator from Abu Dhabi. He is also the Founder & Editor-in-chief of SWALIF, an art and literature project-based collective for youth based in the Khaleej. Salem completed a degree in Politics and Geography from King's College London and is interested in discussions on nationalism, cultural hegemony, and post-structural development. His practice is motivated by varying degrees of socio-cultural critique, as well as a constant pursuit of ideological reimaginations. Currently, he works as a strategy consultant and aspires to become an academic in Middle Eastern political art and urban studies.
Exhibitions
2023
Zuhoor at Manarat AlSaadiyat
Exhibition Organizer & Co-Curator
2023
Getting Over the Color Green at AlSerkal Avenue
Public Programs Co-Curator
2022
Ybna Al3eid at Bayt AlMamzar
Exhibition Co-Curator
2021
Khaleejiness at Manarat AlSaadiyat
Exhibition Curator
Awards/Residencies
2023
421 Homebound Residency 2023
2023
MiZa Container Summer Residency
2022
Dirwaza Microfund for Creative Access
2021
King's Principal’s Global Leadership Award
2020
King’s Experience Enterprise Award
Fairs/Festivals
2023
Safha Art Book Fair
SWALIF Booth
2022
Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival
Access Sharjah Challenge Finalists
2021
AlBurda Festival at Dubai Expo 2020
Commissioned Artwork & Workshops
2021
Abu Dhabi Art Fair
SWALIF Booth
Work
Experience
Oct 2022 - Present
Associate Consultant - Strategy&, Part of the PwC Network
-
Strategic planning and business development with expertise in slide building, qualitative research, financial modeling, benchmarking, and designing KPIs, objectives, and project scopes aligned with both private and public sector client needs
-
Proficient in budget planning, financial analysis, and resource optimization, as well as advanced quantitative analytical skills combined with impactful data visualization and organisational abilities
-
Effective in communicating insights through compelling written/visual and oral presentations
Sep 2019 - Present
Writer at Large
I have written catalogue essays for exhibitions, conducted interviews, produced critiques and reviews, published academic papers, and completed commissions for institutions like Barjeel Art, Art Dubai and Expo 2020.
Dec 2020 - Present
Founder of SWALIF Collective
-
SWALIF is a collective for artists and writers representing emerging SWANA youth in arts/literature
-
“Encapsulated Volume 1: Photoessays on Khaleejiness" (Sep 2021) - effectively distributed over 200 copies of the publication and attracted around 6,000 exhibition visitors
-
“Ybna Al3eid” (Sep 2022) - Exhibition incubated by Dirwaza Labs and selected as ArtForums Dubai Critics Pick; one of Bayt AlMamzar's largest exhibitions
-
"Zuhoor" (Feb 2023) - exhibition at Manarat AlSaadiyat with engaging schedule of public programming/events and over 4,00 visitors
-
"Shul'Salfa" Podcast with around 150 average listeners per episode
Mar 2021 - Aug 2021
Research and Communications - UAE Embassy London
Efficiently completed tasks aimed at accomplishing the goals of the UAE mission to the UK, such as completing background briefs for the Ambassador, compiling research documents for projects and as reference tools in the embassy, strategizing social media plans, and producing quarterly plans.
Sep 2020 - Dec 2020
Heritage and Arts Sector Intern - UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth
Assisted on tasks throughout in terms of daily operations, communications, and planning, as well as entirely producing a database for all the artworks and participants of the AlBurda Islamic Art Festival (2006-2017).
Education
2019 - 2022
King's College London | Bachelors’s Degree
BA (Hons) Liberal Arts with a Major in Politics and Minor in Geography
Received a First Class Award
2016 - 2019
American International School in Abu Dhabi | International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
Higher Level: Business Management, English Literature, Theatre
Standard Level: Mathematics, Arabic, Biology
Received High Honours at Graduation
Selected Press
2022
-
Artforum, “October Critics’ Pick: Dubai; Ybna Al3eid”, by Yalda Bidshahari
-
The Culturist, “New season of exhibitions in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi", by Hind Mezaina
-
Gulf News, “Take a tour of Dubai’s Bayt Al Mamzar”, by Tessa Koshy
-
Vice Arabia “Photo Essays About what it Means to be Khaleeji” by Bader Salem
-
Canvas Magazine, 100th Issue, “Young Voice from Abu Dhabi”, by Vamika Singh
2021
-
Elle Arabia Magazine “Here & Now” by Samia Qaiyum
-
Art Review Asia “Can Gen-Z's Khaleejiness Escape Institutionalisation In the Gulf” by Rahel Aima
-
The National “SWALIF: how new UAE publishing house wants to further critique in the Gulf” by Alexandra Chaves
-
The National “Khaleejiness: young artists explore ideas of Gulf identity in Abu Dhabi exhibition” by Alexandra Chaves
-
Arab News “This new photo exhibition explores what it means to be Khaleeji”