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Iraq's isolated artists set for Venice Biennale showcase Iraq's isolated artists set for Venice Biennale showcase
(6 months later)
A political cartoonist whose work satirises the everyday struggle of life in post-war Baghdad and a photographer who explores the emotional legacy of Saddam Hussein's brutal oppression of the Kurds are among the artists in Iraq's pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale.A political cartoonist whose work satirises the everyday struggle of life in post-war Baghdad and a photographer who explores the emotional legacy of Saddam Hussein's brutal oppression of the Kurds are among the artists in Iraq's pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale.
The pavilion, titled Welcome to Iraq, will for the first time showcase contemporary artists who live and work in the country. Iraq's first Venice pavilion, in 2011, showed work by members of the Iraqi diaspora, most of whom left in the 1970s before the outbreak of war with Iran.The pavilion, titled Welcome to Iraq, will for the first time showcase contemporary artists who live and work in the country. Iraq's first Venice pavilion, in 2011, showed work by members of the Iraqi diaspora, most of whom left in the 1970s before the outbreak of war with Iran.
This year's pavilion is curated by Jonathan Watkins, director of the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, who was commissioned by the Ruya Foundation for Contemporary Culture in Iraq. Watkins travelled around the country in an armoured car with soldiers visiting more than 100 artists in and around Baghdad, Basra, Babylon and Kurdistan, from whom he selected 11 for the Venice show.This year's pavilion is curated by Jonathan Watkins, director of the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, who was commissioned by the Ruya Foundation for Contemporary Culture in Iraq. Watkins travelled around the country in an armoured car with soldiers visiting more than 100 artists in and around Baghdad, Basra, Babylon and Kurdistan, from whom he selected 11 for the Venice show.
"The artists in Iraq are isolated from the art world," he said at Art Dubai, the largest art fair in the Middle East. "Most of them didn't know where Venice was. There's not much of a local audience because people are just concerned with surviving. A lot of them said it was the first time anyone had ever asked to see their work.""The artists in Iraq are isolated from the art world," he said at Art Dubai, the largest art fair in the Middle East. "Most of them didn't know where Venice was. There's not much of a local audience because people are just concerned with surviving. A lot of them said it was the first time anyone had ever asked to see their work."
The cartoonist Abdul Raheem Yassir uses deadpan humour to address the social and political chaos and corruption in the country. Among his cartoons to be shown in Venice is one of a man glued to a TV news report showing the gun turret of a tank bulldozing into a building while the same gun is breaking through the wall behind him. Another shows an artist painting a bomb that is falling from the sky and about to strike him.The cartoonist Abdul Raheem Yassir uses deadpan humour to address the social and political chaos and corruption in the country. Among his cartoons to be shown in Venice is one of a man glued to a TV news report showing the gun turret of a tank bulldozing into a building while the same gun is breaking through the wall behind him. Another shows an artist painting a bomb that is falling from the sky and about to strike him.
Watkins said: "It's a real threat. This is the situation for artists in Baghdad. We met an artist who was worried about being photographed in the street because there's been a spate of shootings with silencers. It requires a great deal of resilience and humour to get by."Watkins said: "It's a real threat. This is the situation for artists in Baghdad. We met an artist who was worried about being photographed in the street because there's been a spate of shootings with silencers. It requires a great deal of resilience and humour to get by."
He said artists had more stability and freedom in Kurdistan, which escaped the devastation of the US-led 2003 invasion. Many Kurdish artists remain concerned about the legacy of Saddam Hussein's genocide of their people.He said artists had more stability and freedom in Kurdistan, which escaped the devastation of the US-led 2003 invasion. Many Kurdish artists remain concerned about the legacy of Saddam Hussein's genocide of their people.
Jamal Penjweny, from Sulaymaniyah, is showing a series of photographs called Saddam is Here that feature Iraqis in everyday places, in the street, in hotels, in shops, holding a portrait of the former dictator over their own faces, evoking the lasting impact of his brutal regime.Jamal Penjweny, from Sulaymaniyah, is showing a series of photographs called Saddam is Here that feature Iraqis in everyday places, in the street, in hotels, in shops, holding a portrait of the former dictator over their own faces, evoking the lasting impact of his brutal regime.
Several artists address the devastation of Iraq's infrastructure and environment caused by years of conflict and western sanctions. Akeel Khreef creates sculptures from the discarded objects that litter the streets of Baghdad – for example, bits of a generator and a bicycle recycled into chairs – raising awareness of the shortages of everyday materials.Several artists address the devastation of Iraq's infrastructure and environment caused by years of conflict and western sanctions. Akeel Khreef creates sculptures from the discarded objects that litter the streets of Baghdad – for example, bits of a generator and a bicycle recycled into chairs – raising awareness of the shortages of everyday materials.
The pavilion will be held at Ca' Dandolo on the Grand Canal, the 16th-century residence of an aristocratic family, which will be refurbished with Kurdish rugs. Visitors will be offered Iraqi tea and biscuits . Watkins said the grand venue was incongruous given the devastation of Iraq's cultural heritage, and the show would play with that contrast.The pavilion will be held at Ca' Dandolo on the Grand Canal, the 16th-century residence of an aristocratic family, which will be refurbished with Kurdish rugs. Visitors will be offered Iraqi tea and biscuits . Watkins said the grand venue was incongruous given the devastation of Iraq's cultural heritage, and the show would play with that contrast.
Cheeman Ismaeel, one of two female artists selected, is showing household objects she ornately decorated, including an oil heater and a lunchbox, which reflect the value of personal history, memory and family.Cheeman Ismaeel, one of two female artists selected, is showing household objects she ornately decorated, including an oil heater and a lunchbox, which reflect the value of personal history, memory and family.
Furat al-Jamil, the other female artist, explores the damage done by the looting of its museums in the wake of the 2003 invasion. She is showing a sculpture of a suspended honeycomb frame that drips its contents into an antique broken pot, which reflects her sadness about her homeland but also the possibility of healing.Furat al-Jamil, the other female artist, explores the damage done by the looting of its museums in the wake of the 2003 invasion. She is showing a sculpture of a suspended honeycomb frame that drips its contents into an antique broken pot, which reflects her sadness about her homeland but also the possibility of healing.
"It's playing with the sense of what's been lost and broken in Iraq and its history as the Garden of Eden, the land of milk and honey," Watkins said."It's playing with the sense of what's been lost and broken in Iraq and its history as the Garden of Eden, the land of milk and honey," Watkins said.
Tamara Chalabi, chairwoman and founder of the Ruya Foundation, said: "Civil society is struggling in Iraq. But we feel by supporting art and culture we're bridging the gap with the outside world."Tamara Chalabi, chairwoman and founder of the Ruya Foundation, said: "Civil society is struggling in Iraq. But we feel by supporting art and culture we're bridging the gap with the outside world."
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