THE THIRD LINE AT ART BASEL (18 - 21 JUNE, 2015) Abbas Akhavan – Study for a Monument

Abbas’ floor-based installation of bronze-cast plants is a continuation of recent works that archive and memorialize native and endemic flora in compromised ecologies. In additional fair programming, Hassan Hajjaj’s new film, Karima: A Day in the Life of a Henna Girl, will be shown as part of the Art Basel Film sector.

Abbas Akhavan, Study for a Monument (detail), 2015, Cast bronze, cotton fabric dimensions variable. / Photo: Nikolaus Steglich, Starnberg / Courtesy of The Third Line

Building upon previous research, 'Study for a Monument' is a new iteration of bronze cast reproductions of flora native to the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This area, modern-day Iraq, has suffered immensely due to social, political and ecological turmoil over the decades, where warring establishments have contributed to irreparable damage to the topography.

Bronze, traditionally used for weaponry and later as a hardwearing material for monuments, is highlighted here by Abbas as a duplicitous material – one that appears permanent but in fact lacks loyalty as it shape shifts in times of political transition – melted and reformed from one political figure to another. In Study for a Monument, the vertical figure has been replaced by anatomically correct fragmented flora laid out horizontally on white cotton sheets.

By archiving the locale-specific plants and flowers, the artist follows the traditional 19th century practice of scientific taxonomic record-keeping for the colonial-held lands. However, Abbas presents a delicate juxtaposition in the work’s production and presentation – while the material captures the carefully researched botanical species in bronze, the presentation takes them apart in pieces, as if on a dissection tray or confiscated goods, they are shown on the floor – hoping to remodel formal structures of authority and knowledge.

Abbas Akhavan, Study for a Monument (detail), 2015, Cast bronze, cotton fabric dimensions variable. / Photo: Nikolaus Steglich, Starnberg / Courtesy of The Third Line

Abbas Akhavan, Study for a Monument (detail), 2015, Cast bronze, cotton fabric dimensions variable. / Photo: Nikolaus Steglich, Starnberg / Courtesy of The Third Line

Abbas Akhavan, Study for a Monument (detail), 2015, Cast bronze, cotton fabric dimensions variable. / Photo: Nikolaus Steglich, Starnberg / Courtesy of The Third Line

Abbas Akhavan, Study for a Monument (detail), 2015, Cast bronze, cotton fabric dimensions variable. / Photo: Nikolaus Steglich, Starnberg / Courtesy of The Third Line

Abbas Akhavan, Study for a Monument (detail), 2015, Cast bronze, cotton fabric dimensions variable. / Photo: Nikolaus Steglich, Starnberg / Courtesy of The Third Line

Abbas Akhavan, Study for a Monument (detail), 2015, Cast bronze, cotton fabric dimensions variable. / Photo: Nikolaus Steglich, Starnberg / Courtesy of The Third Line

Abbas Akhavan

Abbas Akhavan's practice ranges from site-specific ephemeral installations to drawing, video, sculpture and performance. The direction of his research has been deeply influenced by the specificity of the sites where he works: the architectures that house them, the economies that surround them, and the people that frequent them. The domestic sphere, as a forked space between hospitality and hostility, has been an ongoing area of research in Abbas' practice. Recent works have shifted focus, wandering onto spaces and species just outside the home – the garden, the backyard, and other domesticated landscapes.

Abbas is the recipient of Kunstpreis Berlin (2012), and Abraaj Capital Art Prize (2014). He lives and works in Toronto and Istanbul.

FILM Karima: A Day in the Life of a Henna Girl

The film follows the henna girls of Marrakesh, in particular focusing on one of his long-term subjects Karima. During the course of a day, Hassan follows Karima and her friends, who work as henna artists in Jemaa el-Fnaa, the historic market in Marrakesh’s old city. From the quiet confines of Karima’s home to the bustling market, where the women and one man woo tourists into adorning their bodies with henna, the film captures the humor, creativity, and strength of the henna girls. Set against the vibrant background of the city, Karima provides a glimpse into the life of a Moroccan woman and the colorful world that inspires Hassan's work.

The Third Line

The Third Line is a Dubai based art gallery that represents contemporary Middle Eastern artists locally, regionally and internationally. The Third Line also hosts non-profit, alternative programs to increase interest and dialogue in the region. Represented artists include: Abbas Akhavan, Ala Ebtekar, Amir H. Fallah, Arwa Abouon, Babak Golkar, Ebtisam Abdulaziz, Farhad Moshiri, Fouad Elkoury, Golnaz Fathi, Hassan Hajjaj, Hayv Kahraman, Huda Lutfi, Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige, Laleh Khorramian, Lamya Gargash, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Pouran Jinchi, Rana Begum, Sahand Hesamiyan, Sara Naim, Sherin Guirguis, Shirin Aliabadi, Slavs and Tatars, Sophia Al-Maria, Tarek Al-Ghoussein, Youssef Nabil and Zineb Sedira.