Samay - a combined Art Exhibition with Hesham Malik and Mohan Naik

“Samay” Exhibition: A Dialogue in Timelessness on the Canvases of Two Icons of Contemporary Art

A brand new exhibition is opening in Europe at the City Museum Kraliky in the Czech Republic on January 9, 2025. the exhibition will remain open until February 28, 2025. The show will also find its way later to India and will be hosted at Carpe Diem - Goa.

In the “Samay” exhibition, international artist Hesham Malik and India-based artist Mohan Naik present their works. Both artists bring their unique perspectives on time and life, which merge into a multifaceted dialogue on the canvases. Mohan Naik brings childhood memories from Goa to life through idyllic depictions of villagers. His works are finely detailed, with distinctive black outlines on a sharp white background that emphasize the connection between humans and nature. In contrast, Hesham Malik explores the cultural understanding of life and its mutable aspects. His work focuses on the everyday life of human existence, which he analyzes and processes with unique depth. Malik’s works offer contrasts and subtle similarities, allowing the viewer to perceive various aspects of human existence.

Shared Painting, Shared Vision

The connection between these two different artistic approaches creates a symbiotic whole, where individual boundaries blur and ambiguous spatial relationships arise. The canvas becomes the place where reality and fiction merge into timeless narratives. The viewer is encouraged to actively engage—constructing and deconstructing complex visual structures, making them part of the artistic process. Both artists’ main goal was to involve the intellect and imagination of the viewer. Instead of finely distinguishing forms, they focused on the tension in the relationships between figures and space—on their stability and instability, concreteness and incomprehensibility, genesis and inevitable decay. The “Samay” exhibition is a bold artistic endeavor that transcends cultural boundaries, creating space for deep reflection on time, life, and our ability to seek harmony in a world full of contrasts.

A Dialogue of Artistic Worlds

For the exhibition, the artists intentionally chose a location far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, addressing the picturesque City Museum in Králíky, in the foothills of Králický Sněžník, Czech Republic - a significant center of local culture. The town of Králíky attracts art lovers from nearby Poland and Germany as well. In addition to this museum, with its rich exhibitions on history, woodcarving, and nature, visitors can also explore the nearby Museum of Military History, the East Bohemian Zoll Monument, the Monument to the Victims of Priest Internment, the pilgrimage site of Hora Matky Boží with its Monastery and Church of the Assumption of Mary, and the third-largest mountain range in the Czech Republic, Králický Sněžník, with the source of the Morava River.

A big thank you goes to directors Michal Kos and Daegal Godinho, whose expertise in art history, creative energy, and ability to inspire others have brought this unique artistic project to life. Although they work at opposite ends of the world—one in Czech Králíky and the other in Indian Goa—they have united their forces and brought together exceptional artists on shared canvases. The result of their collaboration is the “Samay” exhibition (translated as “Time”), which invites us to reflect on the search for harmony in today’s hectic world.

The “Samay” exhibition will open at the Králíky City Museum under the leadership of Michal Kos and will then be presented at the Carpe Diem Gallery in Goa under the patronage of Daegal Godinho. This project not only creates a cultural connection between two distinct regions but also makes a unique contribution to enriching the art communities of both countries. Its ambitions and messages are undeniable, and we look forward to the resonance it will evoke in the viewers.

About the artists

Mohan Naik

Mohan Naik, an artist from the village of Cuncolim in the Indian state of Goa, was born in 1960 and earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Goa Art College. His works often capture idyllic childhood memories, with rural life being his main source of inspiration. Naik finds significant inspiration in his immediate surroundings. He lives in a remote village in southern Goa, surrounded by nature, with his life experiences serving as his greatest motivation for creating art.

Naik’s works have been featured in numerous solo and retrospective exhibitions at prominent institutions across India and abroad, including in the United Kingdom, Scotland, New York, Singapore, and Dubai.

From an early age, he observed the villagers and their families in their daily activities. On his canvases, he captures memories of the past and the changes in his picturesque hometown village. Windblown men and women working diligently in the fields, accompanied by goats in the early morning hours, evoke nostalgia in him and allow him to relive his formative years. His canvases often feature motifs such as goats, men and women, stones, and trees—elements that played a significant role in his youth.

Hesham Malik

Hesham Malik is an internationally recognized artist, known for his unique approach to contemporary art. He studied fine arts at the University of Waterloo in Canada and specialized in art and design at the Parsons School of Design and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

His work is characterized by vibrant colors, intricate textures, and a deep connection to the cultural and everyday lives of people. Malik’s works are inspired by his direct interactions with diverse communities around the world. He frequently explores themes of unity, human psyche, and the merging of Eastern and Western cultures. His ability to tell complex stories through layered artistic techniques has earned him recognition in many countries.

Malik is also known for his initiative to promote children’s education and the development of their artistic talent. His openness to various cultures is enriched by his experiences from travels and stays in diverse places such as Toronto, New York, Nairobi, Cairo, Paris, Goa, and more. These encounters allowed him to combine different artistic forms, creating new styles and original works. Malik’s work serves not only aesthetic purposes but also has an educational and societal impact. He collaborates with schools, museums, and other institutions, integrating his art into educational programs and community projects. As a result, he has gained wide attention and respect from many organizations.