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Vartan Avakian
The Revenge of Geography Heroes, Beauty Queens and Lebanese Action Cinema 1979—1989 A Topographic Survey of Beirut , (work in progress)
Topographic model: Wood, cork
100 x 140 cm
Detail view
Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation
Photo by Maryam Al Qassimi
In 1979, Samir Ghosseini’s Hasna’ wa ‘Amaliqa (The Beauty and the Giants)premiered in Beirut, marking the launch of the Lebanese action cinema genre. With the civil war raging, the 1980s was a period when weapons and explosives were easily accessible in Lebanon. It was also a time when urbanity was reconfigured and geography disrupted. Action films weaved narratives that dissociated the cityscape from historic and geographic specificity, producing new topographies.
In collaboration with Ahmad Gharbieh.
April 2011
This project was part of Sharjah Biennial 10
Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation
Vartan Avakian
2011
Topographic model: Wood, cork
100 x 140 cm
Detail view
Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation
Photo by Maryam Al Qassimi
Vartan Avakian
2011
6 printed maps
100 x 70 cm each
Topographic model: Wood, cork
100 x 140 cm
Installation view
Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation
Photo by Alfredo Rubio
Vartan Avakian
2011
6 printed maps
100 x 70 cm each
Topographic model: Wood, cork
100 x 140 cm
Installation view
Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation
Photo by Alfredo Rubio
Vartan Avakian employs video, installation, photography and other media drawn from popular culture in order to examine the tools and processes of modern cultural production.
Accompanying and complementing the main premise of Sharjah Biennial 10, Plot for a Biennial explores the concept of a ‘conversation’ through printed matter.