If you haven't yet been to 'Hudood: Rethinking Boundaries' , then you should make your way and step into this wonderful collaborative exhibition, curated by Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi's SOAS students: Chloe-Kate Abel, Shamsa AlNahyan, Elika Blake, Clara Rose Ewert, Safa Kamran, Antonis Kentonis, Suparna Shankaranand Natesan and Nour Al Huda Zaynab Schröter, showcasing contemporary art chosen from the Barjeel Art Foundation collection, exploring the theme of 'hudood'—meaning boundaries.
Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi founder of Barjeel Art Foundation and exhibition curators: Chloe-Kate Abel, Shamsa AlNahyan, Elika Blake, Clara Rose Ewert, Safa Kamran, Antonis Kentonis, Suparna Shankaranand Natesan and Nour Al Huda Zaynab Schröter
Hudood: Rethinking Boundaries, works: 'Shorja Street, Baghdad' by Latif Al Ani; 'Oral Tradition' by Lateefa Bint Maktoum;
'Pierre dans La Marre' by Mohsin Harraki
The exhibition's curators question and extensively look at the meaning of boundaries through the exhibited art—boundaries as a subject and as a point of reference, relaying a wide range of diverse arts from South West Asia and North Africa region (SWANA), displaying notions and themes which pertain in a variety of ways back to the word boundaries and what that entails.
'Monde Arab Sous Pression' by Batoul S'himi
From its effects on the region, to boundaries that may condition both artist's works and their biographies, concrete and abstract boundaries take shape within the artworks, transcending boundaries as well as reflect on them. Art flooding outside the boundaries artists may have either encountered throughout their work and careers or have had imposed.
'You Are Still Here' by Mona Hatoum with reflection of the work 'The Fence' by Nadia Ayari
'Volleyball' by Khaled Jarrar
The art exhibited from artists such as Rachid Koraichi, Ahmed Mater, Mona Hatoum, Kader Attia, Anuar Khalifi, amongst many others, are profound, with the artworks from the Barjeel Collection containing vast amounts of meaning, socio-political elements and bursts of expression.
Art reflecting boundaries in regards to gender, war, geography, societies, nostalgia, memories, limits the mind may hold, as well as those history of art or the art market might have once set on subjects such as hospitality, or on materials such as embroidery, are displayed throughout the exhibition in sections including: 'Tangible Boundaries: Don't Trust the Concrete'—where concrete, the building material, is examined, and through the artists work, as mentioned in the exhibition, "[...]are able to question their urban spheres of existence, and how the infrastructures around them fortify the intangible boundaries of class, gender, race and nationality" — and 'Navigating the Majlis: Gendered Spaces' where this section, "a tribute to a women's role in the Majlis, a traditional gathering space for men"— looks at gendered boundaries amongst everyday practices and social interactions, as well as explores art hierarchies that have separated art and craft.
Artworks throughout the exhibition, spanning two floors of the gallery, encompass photography, painting, embroidery, sculptures and video work, where artworks brought into the fold of the gallery embrace the audience, cleverly merge as both an ensemble and presented as the different branches boundaries can grow into.
'My People' by Mohammad Abla; 'Fields by the Canal' by Mahrous Abdau; 'Pierre dans La Marre' by Mohsin Harraki
'Suluk's Shore' by Anuar Khalifi
'Evolution of Man' (Set of 5) by Ahmed Mater
The exhibition goes beyond its geographical space in London, unfolding as a curatorial practice between the art collection from Barjeel Art Foundation and the curators, students from SOAS. Talks accompanied the exhibition, with opening remarks from Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation and from Lina Khatib, Director of SMEI, a panel with the curatorial team and Brian Jia Qing Yue, Exhibition Designer and Creative Direction, and a discussion on facing boundaries in art practice with Dr. Venetia Porter, Dr. Natasha Morris, Dr. Ridha Moumni and artist Issam Kourbaj.
Hudood: Rethinking Boundaries delves into what boundaries are and their impacts on contemporary art and more, meaningfully curated, a not to be missed exhibition, where you will encounter great and interesting art that explores as well as confronts parameters, rethinking, and going beyond boundaries.
'Passport' by Walid al Wawi
Hudood: Rethinking boundaries, is on until 21st September 2024 at Brunei Gallery SOAS
All works in the exhibition are courtesy of the collection of the Barjeel Art Foundation and founder Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi