“Cemented Sky” an exhibition by the young emerging Palestinian artist Yazan Abu Salameh that explores a geography with distant horizons and density of structures. A wall upon a wall and a concrete block over another, the melancholy of the urban environment, as a byproduct of military occupation, manifests in Abu Salameh’s artworks. They emit ambivalence of feelings, self reflection and irony combined with an overwhelming presence of concrete, not only as a form but also as a subject and metaphor.
Details:
- 5 June – 21 August 2021
- Opens on Saturday 5 June 2021 10.00 am – 8.00 pm
- Zawyeh Gallery, unit 27, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
Living in Bethlehem and encountering the Israeli Apartheid Wall, the endless concrete road blocks, watch towers, checkpoints…etc., have had an apparent effect on Abu Salameh’s artistic approach. The Israeli restriction have also pushed Palestinians to build vertically resulting in tall and dense concrete residential tower blocks, and an ever shrinking connection with nature and open spaces.
Abu Salameh uses a mixture of materials such as concrete, pebbles, wires mixed with Lego blocks and drawings. He places colorful Lego blocks with smooth plastic texture next to the rough grey concrete, to highlight the fragility of life and emphasize its contradictions. His concrete artworks can be seen as miniature maps that reflect remnants of childhood memories, concrete blockades and watch tours as well as Palestinian neighborhoods from a bird’s eye view. In many instances, he directs the attention of the viewer to a certain spot on the surface of his artwork by drawing a circle. The circle acts as a magnifying glass, pointing towards what might be his location on “the map” or perhaps his vision of what is the focal point on the canvas, where viewers should focus their gaze.
For more information visit: zawyeh.net
