Leading the week: "Silent Residues" by Ammar Al Attar
In a striking new body of work, Emirati artist Ammar Al Attar engages with abandoned and derelict spaces across the United Arab Emirates. On view in his first solo exhibition at Iris Projects in Abu Dhabi, curated by Nasser Abdullah, the series places Al Attar in front of the lens — rather than behind it — as he engages with these sites in a playful and insightful manner.
Often set in desert landscapes and largely forgotten sites amidst the remnants of human presence and industrial debris, Al Attar performs a series of repetitive physical gestures that he documents in this new body of work. The resulting black-and-white inkjet prints are punctuated with bold, colorful and simplified forms, repetitive in their own right, that heighten the dialogue between the artist and his surroundings.
The works on display showcase an intimate, delicate yet poignant journey through a world plagued by monotony. Al Attar’s works invite the spectator to pose crucial questions on the nature of perseverance and adaptation in a world where individuals are increasingly isolated.
Date: Sep. 19 through Nov. 26
Location: Iris Projects, M_39, MiZa, Abu Dhabi
