AKRAM ZAATARI

Lebanon

Akram Zaatari is a video artist and curator who lives and works in Beirut. Author of more than 40 videos, and video installations, Zaatari has been exploring issues pertinent to Lebanese postwar condition, particularly the mediation of territorial conflicts and wars through television, the logic of religious and national resistance, and the production and circulation of images in the context of geographically divided Middle East, particularly in "This Day" (2003), "In This House" (2005) and "all is well on the Border" (1997). Zaatari's work has been also focusing on the study of male sexuality particularly in "crazy of you" (1997), and later in "How I love you" (2001).

Co-founder of the Arab Image Foundation (Beirut), Zaatari based his work on collecting, studying, and archiving the photographic history of the Middle East notably studying the work of Lebanese photographer Hashem el Madani (1928-), as a register of social relationships and of photographic practices. His ongoing research was the basis for a series of exhibitions and publications such as "Hashem El Madani: Studio Practices", and "Mapping Sitting" (collaboration with Walid Raad).



AKRAM ZAATARI
Studio Sherazade/reception space

2006, composite digital image
Courtesy of Sfeir Semler gallery and the artist