The King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra) on Tuesday announced that out of the 10 shortlisted artists, Abidin’s proposal — a wall installation entitled ON, which explores the complexity of capturing events — was selected as this year's winner.
Abidin was awarded $100,000 for the winning piece, which explores the intersection of history, memory and identity. It was fuelled by his own research on the Zanj rebellion against the Abbassid Caliphate, which began in 869AD in southern Iraq.
“As I delve into the intangible aspects of history, I am confronted with the challenge of scarce reliable archival sources,” Abidin says.
“This challenge is especially present in the context of Arab history, where much remains shrouded in ambiguity, allowing for a broad range of interpretations and augmentations. In studying the Zanj rebellion of 869AD in Iraq, I find a captivating example of this complexity.”
Read more: https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art-design/2023/05/16/iraqi-finnish-artist-adel-abidin-wins-100000-ithra-art-prize/
