Adel Abidin
12 Feb - 25 Apr 2010
© Adel Abidin
"To Mohammed! To Mecca! ́!, 2009
Photo: Finnish National Gallery / Central Art Archives, Petri Virtanen.
"To Mohammed! To Mecca! ́!, 2009
Photo: Finnish National Gallery / Central Art Archives, Petri Virtanen.
ADEL ABIDIN
February 12 - April 25, 2010
The Finland-based Iraqi artist Adel Abidin (b. 1973) will present a series of new installations that merge sound, moving image and sculptural elements.
The Finland-based Iraqi artist Adel Abidin (b. 1973) will present a series of new installations that merge sound, moving image and sculptural elements. Known for a sarcastic and ironic approach, Abidin challenges the audience to examine critically things like national and sexual identity and the concept of heroism.
Abidin is a rising star in contemporary art. He has exhibited his work in the USA, France, the UK and Egypt. He represented Finland at the Venice Biennale in 2007. The exhibition opening in February will be Abidin's largest museum show to date in Finland.
One of the works in the show will be Abidin Travels, which was initially presented at the 2007 Venice Biennale. Using grotesque humour to examine the insanity of war, the work is an imaginary travel agency that advertises unique and alternative tours to Baghdad, a destination presented to the tourist as a fascinating place where "everything is forbidden".
Life and death is a recurrent motif in Abidin's work. "I call into question the narrow examination of humanity through life; is it really more important to live than to die?" Abidin asks.
February 12 - April 25, 2010
The Finland-based Iraqi artist Adel Abidin (b. 1973) will present a series of new installations that merge sound, moving image and sculptural elements.
The Finland-based Iraqi artist Adel Abidin (b. 1973) will present a series of new installations that merge sound, moving image and sculptural elements. Known for a sarcastic and ironic approach, Abidin challenges the audience to examine critically things like national and sexual identity and the concept of heroism.
Abidin is a rising star in contemporary art. He has exhibited his work in the USA, France, the UK and Egypt. He represented Finland at the Venice Biennale in 2007. The exhibition opening in February will be Abidin's largest museum show to date in Finland.
One of the works in the show will be Abidin Travels, which was initially presented at the 2007 Venice Biennale. Using grotesque humour to examine the insanity of war, the work is an imaginary travel agency that advertises unique and alternative tours to Baghdad, a destination presented to the tourist as a fascinating place where "everything is forbidden".
Life and death is a recurrent motif in Abidin's work. "I call into question the narrow examination of humanity through life; is it really more important to live than to die?" Abidin asks.