12.16.2004



ART/Stockholm
Mona Hatoum retrospective
Through Dec. 19

Artist Mona Hatoum unites in her work an interest in aesthetics with themes that are political or social in character, by focusing on subjects such as violence, oppression, and voyeurism, often in relation to the human body.

Her art is located on the border between reality and illusion, where recognizable everyday objects are distorted and transformed into unpleasant and sometimes physically dangerous objects. Rubber crutches, a carpet of pins, and electrified kitchen utensils are a few examples of Hatoum's provocative body of work.

The exhibition at Magasin 3 Stockholm Konsthall is the most comprehensive presentation of Hatoum's work to date. The show includes some 60 artworks, as well as a large-scale new installation made specifically for Magasin 3.

Hatoum herself has commented on the multi-faceted nature of her work as follows:

"You first experience an artwork physically. I like the work to operate on both sensual and intellectual levels. Meanings, connotations, and associations come after the initial physical experience as your imagination, intellect, psyche are fired off by what you've seen."

Artist bio: Hatoum has exhibited widely in Europe, USA, and Canada. In 1995, she was nominated for the Turner Prize and was included in the Venice Biennial. The Swedish public knows Hatoum as a IASPIS resident (2001 and 2002) and through an exhibition at Uppsala konstmuseum in the fall of 2003 that focused mainly on her video work and photography. Earlier this year, Hatoum became the first visual artist to receive Copenhagen University's Sonning Prize and this fall was awarded the Swiss Roswitha Haftmann Prize in Zurich. Hatoum lives and works in London and Berlin.

Shown/header image: "Cage-à-deux" (detail), 2002
Mild steel and painted MDF
h: 201.5 x w: 315 x d: 199.5 cm / h: 79.3 x w: 124 x d: 78.5 in
Photo: Jay Jopling/White Cube (London)
Mona Hatoum

Find it: Magasin 3 Stockholm Konsthall
Frihamnen, SE - 115 56 Stockholm
Sweden
Get info: +46 8-545-680-40

Find art events in other cities, in the DEC/JAN issue of "Arte Six."