The Third Line is home to the Neither Here ~ Nor Elsewhere exhibition showcasing the works of ten artists from Africa and Asia. The show delves into themes of identity, desire, displacement, and resistance, addressing cultural and political dynamics shaped by migration, censorship, and marginalisation. Curated by Sanaz Askari, the exhibition will welcome all visitors until 26 January 2025.
At its core, the show revolves around the interplay between fear and fantasy, the public and private realms, as experienced by marginalised individuals within various socio-political contexts. The participating artists challenge societal hierarchies and constraints, reimagining the relationship between identity, the body, and its environment.
Multidisciplinary artist Faissal El-Malak offers colourful paintings exploring themes of identity and displacement, shedding light on personal and collective histories often overlooked or suppressed. Lebanese artist Omar Mismar contributes The Path of Love (Day #16) (2013-2024), a neon installation which reflects on belonging, love, and marginalisation within the digital landscape.
For Tehran-born artist Mahsa Merci, the body serves as a politicised symbol of expression and liberation. Her oil paintings depict friends with their backs turned to the viewer, simultaneously protecting their identities and celebrating their multifaceted presence in public spaces.
Dutch artist Michael Ho critiques systems of control in his video work Empty Orchestra (2021). Here, the karaoke room becomes a communal space for discussing forbidden and profane themes, subtly addressing Chinese authority’s grip on expression.
Qatari-American artist Sophia Al-Maria, who draws from sci-fi and environmental concerns in her storytelling, exhibits her art piece The Limerent Object (2016). It reimagines the apocalypse as a love story, emphasising humanity’s insignificance within the cosmos.
Iranian artist Sam Samiee reclaims the beauty and complexity of male identity in his portraits, which challenge Western artistic norms by depicting young men from Eastern Islamicate cultures in intimate moments. Similarly, Moroccan artist Soufiane Ababri focuses on male figures, documenting their experiences of dual marginalisation in Paris and Tangier. His tender portrayals of daily life explore intersections of race, intimacy, and identity.
Iranian photographer and filmmaker Tahmineh Monzavi explores themes of alienation and the historical suppression of women in her video OXYS (2013). Using the metaphor of a pregnant body incubating love, she addresses the solitude of imprisonment and the resilience it inspires. Yemeni-Egyptian-American photographer Yumna Al-Arashi’s series Everything In Its Right Place (2024) presents fragmented female bodies as sites of vulnerability and strength, challenging societal norms surrounding femininity and identity. Meanwhile, Iraqi artist Hayv Kahraman confronts the fragility and trauma inflicted on the gendered body while asserting its resilience and enduring power.
To get more information about Neither Here ~ Nor Elsewhere, please go to the official web page of the exhibition.
In addition, you might be interested in visiting Dirty Mirror Selfie by Lebanese artist Marwan Sahmarani.
To be sure that you will not miss our latest art news, you can join our Telegram channel.
