What’s On has information about a powerful new art exhibition in Dubai. Hazem Harb exhibits at Alserkal Avenue, at Salsali Prive Museum.

Despite being born in Palestine and using photographs in his latest exhibition from 1948, the year of the Palestine War, artist Hazem Harb insists he is not making a political point with his work. Instead, he is attempting to trigger a discussion about the oppressive influence of landscape and architecture over people.

The show is titled The Invisible Landscape And Concrete Futures, and is split into three parts: Archaeology Of The Occupation, Tag Series, and This Is Not A Museum. This is Harb’s first solo exhibition – little wonder, then, that he says creating the work was both tiring and emotional.

Hazem Harb exhibits in Dubai at Alserkal Avenue

I started thinking about this project in 2008 and began researching it. I started collecting archived photographs, which made me feel nostalgic. Some of the photos are from my own collection, and some are from online photography archives. I like to collect photos because they are connected to my history, to my past, to my identity.

In Tag Series I’ve tagged the faces in the photos. This is a reference to Facebook and social media. I decided to use contemporary tools from today to link to the past.

Looking at these photos, I can’t help but think, ‘Where are these people now?’ Who are these people? I was looking into my heart, and it was emotional for me. Now I have finished the project I feel very tired.

 

I always refuse to link my art with political issues. I try to stay far away from this issue because I think we have enough to think about that. I try to see my country from another point of view.

I’m lucky because I can use different tools: drawing, painting, graphic design, video, and sculpture. I’m at full capacity in this show. Everything I can do is in this show, every experience I have had is in this show. The suffering produced this work.

This is my first solo exhibition. I was very nervous. It made me mentally tired, and also angry. I work intensely and sometimes I force myself to work very hard. This show is very important to me. I think it will change many things, such as my personality and my art. I’m very excited for those changes.

Until June 1
Salsali Prive Museum, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, Sun to Thur 11am to 6pm, Sat 1pm to 5pm, free. Tel: (04) 3809600. Taxi: Alserkal Avenue. salsalipm.com