Venice Biennale 2011: Iraq
Wounded Water. Six Iraqi artists interpret the theme of water. Fondazione Gervasuti, Venice.
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Al Basrah, the Venice of the East. 2011
Installation
The artists conceived his works for the pavilion, following his first visit to his home town Al Basrah after 36 years of residence in Rome.
Ali Assafs work is perhaps most direct in its relationship to the past and the artist's own feelings of dislocation and nostalgia. Indeed, Assaf inserts his own body into the locations of his memory, making physical and literal his claims of dislocation. (…) Large "drops" of lead, tar and black plastic have been formed and rained onto the photos by the artist, falling into tranquil scenes of the marshlands, rivers and well-preserved historic buildings. The contamination of environment, rather than people, is again underlined in the pyramid of dates in the center of the room.
Rijin Sahakian, exhibition catalogue
© Photo: Haupt & Binder
Wounded Water. Six Iraqi artists interpret the theme of water. Fondazione Gervasuti, Venice.