Akram Zaatari
dal 26/3/2009 al 23/5/2009
Segnalato da
26/3/2009
Akram Zaatari
Kunstverein Munchen, Munich
As co-founder of the Arab Image Foundation in Beirut, collecting, archiving and analysing the visual history of the Middle East forms the basis of Zaatari's work. His practice is an ongoing study of historical photographic documents, and their relationship to personal histories - confronting personal with historical political events. Zaatari dedicates parts of his research to the phenomenon of the national resistance movements, underlining the shortcomings in the representation of territorial conflicts.
Curator: Stefan Kalmár
Curatorial Assistance: Julia Maier and Nadine Zeidler
Kunstverein München is pleased to present the first international survey exhibition of Lebanese artist
Akram Zaatari (*1966 Saida, Lebanon)
Zaatari studies the cultural and political conditions of the Lebanon’s postwar society, dedicating
parts of his research to the phenomenon of the national resistance movements, underlining the shortcomings in the representation of territorial conflicts ("All Is Well on the Border", 1997, "In This
House", 2005 and "Nature Morte", 2008). In his feature length video "This Day", 2003 Zaatari
presents a geographical and mental voyage that comments on the production and circulation of
images across the Middle East.
As co-founder of the Arab Image Foundation in Beirut, collecting, archiving and analysing the visual
history of the Middle East forms the basis of Zaatari's work. His "Madani Project" for example, is an
extensive investigation into the archive of photographer Hashem el Madani (*1928), studying social
relationships in relation to portrait photography and the urban history of the city Saida.
Akram Zaatari's artistic practice is an ongoing study of historical photographic documents, and their
relationship to personal histories - confronting personal with historical political events. Presenting the
history of intimate everyday experiences, as a parable for the political and cultural shifts taking place
in Beirut and across the Middle East.
Akram Zaatari (*1966 Saida, Lebanon). Lives and works in Beirut.
Solo exhibitions: 2007, Galery Sfeir-Semler (Hamburg), Art Basel; 2006, Paris Photo La Caixa
(Barcelona); 2005, Grey Art Gallery (New York); 2004 Portikus, Frankfurt; 2002, Palais des Beaux Arts
(Brüssel). Group exhibitions: 2008, Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris); 2007, 52. Biennale, Venice;
2006, Sao Paulo Biennale, Gwangju Biennale (Korea), Sydney Biennale; 2003, Worldwide Video
Festival (Amsterdam)
Kunstverein München would like to thank Sfeir-Semler Gallery
Image: This Day. Akram's photographs and albums, color light-jet print, 112 x 91 cm, 2007
Press contact:
Jette Mehlberg, LoeschHundLiepold Kommunikation Lindwurmstraße 124 D-80337 München +49 (0)89-720187-10 j.mehlberg@hkl.de
Opening: 27 march 2009, 8 pm
Kunstverein München e.V.
Galeriestraße 4 - 80539 München Germany
Opening Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 12 am – 7 pm
Saturday – Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm