This catalogue accompanies Welcome to Iraq, the group exhibition of the Iraqi Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2013 from 1 June to 24 November 2013. A restaging of the exhibition takes place at South London Gallery in 2014. This is the second time Iraq returns to the Venice Biennale after a 35 years' gap.

'The Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia in 2013 hosts a group exhibition curated by Jonathan Watkins comprising works by eleven contemporary Iraqi artists resident in Iraq. Working across a wide range of media, including photography, drawing, painting, video, installation, sculpture, and textiles, they represent two generations of artists from across the country and were selected after many studio visits, other meetings and much careful thinking.

Artistic emphasis is on the nature of everyday life as it is now lived in Iraq, exemplifying a determination "to make do and get by," an inventiveness borne out of necessity in extraordinary historical circumstances. Iraq is insinuated into the exhibition space, creating a salon atmosphere where visitors can sit, read and learn about Iraqi culture and drink tea. In collaboration with the Iraq National Library and Archive, books and comics are available to read.' - from the official website of the Pavilion of Iraq at at the Venice Biennale 2013.

In addition to the essays by Jonathan Watkins and Tamara Chalabi, it also includes four chapters: Sit and Sleep, Listen, Read, Eat and Drink, which provide information and illustrations of different aspects in Iraqi culture showcasing in the show.

With artists biographies and list of works.

Access level

Onsite

Location code
EX.ITA.BVE.2013
Language

English

Publication/Creation date

2013

No of pages

143

ISBN / ISSN

9781904864844

No of copies

2

Content type

catalogue

Chapter headings

Welcome to Iraq - Jonathan WATKINS

Notes in the Margins of an Art Expedition in Iraq - Tamara CHALABI

Welcome to Iraq
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Welcome to Iraq