Dubai,
Foundry Gallery, Boulevard Crescent, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, United Arab Emirates
5 February 2025
Collective memory is a self-portrait of each society, and the observer is its witness. Exploring collective memory through the unique outlook of artists is an artistic approach toward the notion of memory, tainted with the personal touch and particular thought process of each artist. The observer, as an individual separate from the formation and existence of collective memory in recent decades, becomes a subject in the hands of political science theorists, undergoing transformations and controls, benefiting the rulers. In such situations, there will be no observer distanced from discussions and events; rather, those who observe are part of the occurrences themselves. As witnesses to various events, we must remember that we are also part of that situation and may share in events that might not be morally justifiable. This project, with the mentioned approaches, presents us with scenes from the collective memory of the geography of contemporary artists. Considering their backgrounds, they document issues and, using those resources, strive to create and present a form of art that reflects our identity or the discussions mentioned.
