Mehmet Akal was born in 1991 in Munich. He completed his education at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. Kazım Akal was born in Munich in 1981. He completed his education at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts.
Mehmet & Kazım, aka Kissing Cousins; use stereotypes and propaganda strategies sometimes as a subject and sometimes as a method, in their works. The duo produce works that humorously oppose traditional classifications and categorizations. In their murals, fanzines, videos, and books, they mock these classifications by citing them. Mehmet & Kazım's strong images carry influences from comics and advertisements but avoid reflecting them directly.
Selected solo exhibitions of the artist include: No Artistas, Verlag für moderne Kunst / Parallel Vienna (Vienna); Le Peep-Show, Kunstverein Friedrichshafen (Germany); Oriental Diary, Mandarin Oriental (Germany), FEATURING pt. 2, Talbot Runhof (Switzerland); FEATURING pt. 1, Talbot Runhof (Germany); Oriental, Academy of Fine Arts (Germany); REP YO COLORS, Akademiegalerie (Germany). Selected group exhibitions od the artist include: Poster campaign, Residenztheater and Pinakothek der Moderne (Germany); Welche Stimmung fanden Sie four vor? Gallery Russi Klenner (Germany); Markus Oehlen plus Masterstudents, Gallery Noah (Germany); Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst (Germany); Liebesgrusse aus Syke, Syker Vorwerk (UK); Setting R.W.F. alive, MIM (Germany); Ansbach Contemporary Biennale (Germany); 12qm Körperformation, Fassbindertage (Germany); Denkraum Deutschland, Pinakothek der Moderne (Germany); Zimmer frei 2019, Hotel Mariandl (Germany); L'artiste devant sa toile, Marburger Kunstverein (Germany); Die Blüte der Präzision, Kunstverein Ebersberg (Germany); Debutants, Haus der Kunst (Germany); Neue Deutsche Malerei, RAUM LINKSRECHTS (Germany); STRAUßLAND, Galerie Verein Berliner Künstler (Germany); Located in Tiefes Loch auf Teppich, Kunstpavillon (Germany).
Mehmet & Kazım live and work in Munich.