The Burdensome Richness 2021
Commissioned work for Galerie Auslage Berlin.
SEPTEMBER 02 - SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
Part of the "The Burdensome Richness" collective exhibition.
THE ARDUOUS WEALTH.
Independent artists in Berlin in the 1980s and today
APRIL 09, 2021 - NOVEMBER 07, 2021
GALLERY DISPLAY
“...During the pandemic and political unrest in Beirut, leaving the city felt like being uprooted. The travel restrictions and border complications evoked memories of displacement during the Lebanese Civil War. The explosion at the Beirut port on 4 August 2020 brought these memories back with renewed force. Moving between Beirut and Berlin became a process of confronting personal and collective histories and exploring how political upheaval, displacement and memory shape the self.”
Berlin, with its constantly evolving artistic scene, serves as the starting point for Kassab’s recent work. Reflecting on the feminist and queer practices that emerged in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, she explores how artists challenged social conventions, racism and patriarchy through performance, photography and other forms of expression. These struggles remain relevant today, as artists continue to question political, social and cultural boundaries. Kassab’s work draws on Berlin’s alternative artistic history, focusing on Claudia Skoda, whose experimental knitwear and unconventional designs made her a key figure in West Berlin’s underground scene during the 1970s and 80s.
Maria Kassab explores self-portraiture through an installation of woollen fabrics on her body. The work weaves together memories of belonging, inheritance and trauma, reflecting a fractured sense of identity shaped by personal and political histories. Inspired by Claudia Skoda’s experimental approach to textiles, performance and installation, Kassab explores the expressive possibilities of fabric beyond its traditional use.
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