Of Men and Gods and Mud (2022)

Ali Cherri
Of Men and Gods and Mud
2022
3-channel video installation
20 minutes
Sharjah Art Foundation Collection
Courtesy of the artist

Overview

Ali Cherri’s sculptures, drawings and installations unravel complex narratives of environment, archaeology and heritage in West Asia and the broader region. Of Men and Gods and Mud (2022) is shot at a traditional brickyard near the Merowe Dam, among Africa’s largest contemporary hydropower projects. Its construction along the Nile river resulted in the flooding of areas where the Manasir tribe were living, displacing 50,000 locals and the destroying of archeological sites. Exploring mud as the materiality of myth and creation, the film offers a supernatural view of development, geological catastrophe and labour.