Eslam Abd El Salam: Hiraeth

Eslam Abd El Salam is an Egyptian artist based in Belfast. He is self-taught and practices through photography and writing, rooted in intuition and a grounded understanding of the real. He uses walking to engage with place and focus on the body in motion, whether in nature or alongside others. He explores synchronicity in friendships and serendipitous encounters, capturing both playfulness and vulnerability in everyday settings.

This exhibition features a selection of photographs that examines displacement and care, rooted in the distance – physical, emotional – between the artist and his mother. The title refers to a Welsh word describing a deep, bittersweet longing for a home, time, or site to which one can never return, or that may never have existed. The images focus on mundane, day-to-day life. The exhibition shapes a common thread between the personal and the collective, considering how experiences of belonging can be shared.

This exhibition is organised by SIRIUS in partnership with PS2, Belfast, and curated by SIRIUS Director Miguel Amado. It is realised with funding from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport through the Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme.

LAUNCH EVENT

SIRIUS
Saturday, 24 October
2-4pm
Free; no booking required

Eslam Abd El Salam in conversation with Miguel Amado

Eslam Abd El Salam and Miguel Amado discuss the exhibition’s central themes and works, as well as the personal, political, and aesthetic considerations that inform the artist’s practice.

Accessibility Note
The building has accessibility limitations. There are three steps to the front door, but a temporary wheelchair ramp is available upon request. The facilities are also accessed via stairs.