Monira Al Qadiri

Monira Al Qadiri is one of the most important artists of the Gulf region. Born in Senegal, she grew up in Kuwait and left for Japan when she was only sixteen. Her identity, she explains, is hybrid, her homeland unclear. The war in Kuwait prompted her to look for subterfuges. The artist has since gained recognition for her videos and sculptures dealing with “petro culture” and the dependency of modern life on fossil fuels. “Oil is a destructive force, but in a way, it is also a miracle. It is like a very strange alien being that has landed from outer space and will eventually disappear again.” She presents objects covered in car paint. They look like jewels in a treasure trove, reminiscent of phallic rockets, futuristic explosive devices, or science fiction. They shine mint green, ultramarine, or in the colors of brass. Some are mounted on white pedestals and rotate; others are monumental in size and found in public space. In fact, they are drill heads. Al Qadiri does not alter their forms, but merely determines their dimensions and colors.

Biography

Monira Al Qadiri (b. 1983, Senegal) grew in Kuwait. In 2010 she received a doctoral degree at Tokyo University of the Arts. Spanning sculpture, installation, film, and performance, Al Qadiri’s multifaceted practice is based on research into the cultural histories of the Middle East by fusing science fiction, documentary, and autobiography. Al Qadiri has had several solo exhibitions at such venues as the Haus der Kunst in Munich and the Sursock Museum in Beirut.

Her works were likewise included in group shows at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and MoMa PS1 in New York, the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven and the Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. She was also represented at the 2022 Venice Biennale in the exhibition The Milk of Dreams. Al Qadiri lives and works in Berlin.