Frieze London, Frieze Masters, and many satellite events opened in London this week, marking the welcome return of the international art fair beyond the realms of virtual viewing rooms. Some notable Middle Eastern artists are taking part.
Solo Presentation by Ahmed Mater at Frieze London
ATHR Gallery, Saudi Arabia, has brought a new body of works by the renowned Saudi artist.
A former physician, Mater documents urban landscapes and their psychological impact on individuals. Drawing on the analytical experience of his medical training, he forensically maps forgotten historical stories and charts futures narratives.
Following on from his Illumination series in 2008, where X-rayed human images were framed within Quranic illuminations and talismanic graphics, Mater’s mixed media works reference aerial surveillance and drone technologies, layered across Islamic portolan sailing charts.
At Frieze London, Regent’s Park, until 17/10/21.
Stateless Heritage at The Mosaic Rooms
This DAAR (Decolonize Architecture Art Research) collaboration between Sandi Hilal and Alessandro Petti looks beyond the narratives of the nation state to redefine Western notions of heritage.
The exhibition presents DAAR’s proposal to recognise Dheisheh refugee camp in Palestine as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It displays photographic light box installations of the refugee camp, which is one of the world’s oldest. The images were taken by Luca Capuano, who has previously documented Italy’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. The lightboxes stand in the space of the room, giving a physical presence to the images.
A second room features a series of photobooks, placed on plinths. Viewers are invited to journey through the books, from the camps to the original villages that make up Dheisheh.
Palestinian filmmaker Omar Hmidat, who lived in the camp before moving to London, hosts an informal gathering at the exhibtion every Sunday, just as he hosted gatherings whilst in the camp.
Stateless Heritage is at The Mosaic Rooms until 30/1/22
Curtain Call Variations on a Folly by Abbas Akhavan at the Chisenhale Gallery
Iranian artist Akhavan’s new commission is on view in East London, recreating sections of the historic Syrian landmark of Palmyra, a 2,000-year-old city destroyed by ISIS.
His installation uses video, drawing and green-screen technology to layer images together, separating classical sculptural columns - made by Akhavan - from Palmyra's ancient site. The sculpture rises from the ground, mixing London clay with cob, a straw building material. A replica of the Palmyra Arch was unveiled in London’s Trafalgar Square in 2016 by Boris Johnson. Akhavan’s work continues the theme of transportation and absence in the spaces of architectural forms, with the material void left by destruction.
Curtain Call Variations on a Folly is at The Chisenhale Gallery until 17/10/21