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Artwork Description

Kader Attia (b. 1970, France) lives and works in Berlin. Attia grew up in both Algeria and in the suburbs of Paris. This experience of being part of two cultures is used as a starting point from which to develop a dynamic practice that reflects on the aesthetics and ethics of different cultures. Attia’s work explores the impact of Western cultural and political capitalism on the Middle East and North Africa, and considers how this residual strain of struggle and resistance to colonisation affects Arab youth, particularly those living in the banlieues (suburbs) of France. For his work, Reason’s Oxymoron (2015), an eighteen-channel video installation, Attia created an expansive video library containing interviews with philosophers, ethnologists, historians, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, musicologists, patients, healers, fetishists, and griots. Each of the volumes is edited under different themes, such as ‘genocide’, ‘totem and fetish’, ‘reason and politics’, or ‘trance’. Taken either individually or as a whole, they offer commentary on psychiatric pathology as perceived in traditional non-Western cultures, on the one hand, and in modern Western societies, on the other. In its mix of rational explanations and irrational representations of what the West calls psychiatry, the work is particularly concerned with the question of the irreparable, inherent in the idea of ‘repair’, and calls into question the ambivalence of the psyche of modern Western societies towards traditional non-Western societies. The work evidences the legacy of modernity as a Western-inflicted – and imported – notion, in which frictions amid traditional and occidental societies occur. Attia questions the slippery border between rationality and irrationality, between science and metaphysics, between belief and mistrust. The conflicting perceptions of (in)sanity highlight the difficulties in healing psychological injuries. There is no definitive solution to soothe the burden of pain, and especially wounds inferred by historical events like colonization.

Artist Biography

Kader Attia: Life and Work

Early Life and Education

Born in Dugny, France, in 1970 to Algerian parents, Kader Attia’s upbringing was shaped by a dual cultural identity. He spent his formative years navigating both Paris and Algeria, an experience that profoundly influenced his artistic perspective. Attia received his education at several prestigious institutions, including l'École duperré de paris, l'École des arts appliqués la massana de barcelone, and ultimately graduating from the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 1998.

Artistic Development and Themes

Attia’s work is deeply rooted in exploring complex themes of postcolonialism, social injustice, and cultural identity. He often examines the psychological and physical consequences of colonialism, migration, and conflict. His artistic practice encompasses sculpture, installation, video, and photography, frequently employing found objects and unconventional materials to convey his message. A recurring motif in his work is the concept of “repair,” both literal and metaphorical, reflecting on the ways societies attempt to heal from trauma and rebuild after destruction.

Key Influences

Postcolonial Theory: Thinkers like Frantz Fanon and Edward Said have significantly informed Attia’s critical examination of colonial legacies.
Personal Experience: His own upbringing as a child of Algerian immigrants in France provides a deeply personal lens through which he views issues of identity and belonging.
Art History: While not directly imitating specific styles, Attia draws inspiration from various artistic traditions to create his unique visual language.

Major Achievements and Recognition

Attia has garnered significant recognition for his impactful work. Some of his major achievements include:

Founding La Colonie, a gallery near Paris’ Gare du Nord train station, which served as a platform for emerging artists and critical dialogue (closed in 2020).
Being appointed curator of the 12th Berlin Biennale in 2021 – a landmark achievement making him the first artist to hold this position since 2016.
Exhibiting ‘On Silence’ at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha (2021).
Winning the Prix Marcel Duchamp in 2016, a prestigious French art award.
Receiving the Joan Miró Prize in 2018.

Historical Significance and Collections

Kader Attia’s work is increasingly recognized for its critical engagement with contemporary social and political issues. His art challenges conventional narratives about history, identity, and the ongoing effects of colonialism. His pieces are included in prominent museum collections worldwide, including:

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York
Sharjah Art Foundation
Tate Museum
Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
Guggenheim Museum, New York

Attia’s contribution lies in his ability to create thought-provoking art that sparks dialogue and encourages viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about the world around them.

Kader Attia

1970 - , France

Quick Facts

Birth Date: 1970
Birth Place: Dugny, France
Movement: Postcolonial art, Contemporary sculpture, Installation art
Name: Kader Attia
Nationality: Algerian-French
Notable Works:
- Reason
- Demo(n)cracy

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