AHMED MATER (B. 1979), 'UNTITLED' FROM THE YELLOW COW SERIES

signed and dated Ahmed Mater 2010 (in pencil, lower left); numbered 13/25 (lower right)

digital chromogenic print on paper

58 by 83cm.; 23 by 32 ½ in.

Executed in 2010.; this work is number 13 from an edition of 25.

Yellow Cow is one of Ahmed Mater's most renowned series, reflecting his interest in contemporary issues and cultural symbolism. The series draws inspiration from Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), the longest chapter in the Qur’an.

Mater created a rich work of art – a non-commercial dairy shop full of real ideas: “Yellow Cow products came to my attention in the Netherlands while I was reading the Qur’an in search of something that might relate to visual arts. The story that first caught my attention was about this odd-coloured cow which God instructed Moses’ people to sacrifice. The story acknowledges this simple fact – humans whether in Mecca or Amsterdam -have eyes and ears and attach themselves to what they see […] an overriding wish to dwell in the company of truth.” Mater named this new vision ‘evidence-based Art.’

The project has been realised as a film, a shop installation, a brand and a series of products. Mater’s website describes this series as “not a work of art that seeks resolution, but an ongoing project that inserts this ancient story into a contemporary consumer society.” Yellow Cow challenges viewers to reflect on the intersections of faith, science, and contemporary societal issues, highlighting Mater's innovative approach to blending tradition with modernity.

Mater's art has been widely exhibited internationally, including at the British Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, establishing him as a key figure in contemporary Middle Eastern art.