Rand Abdul Jabbar traces humanity’s bond with land and water.
Iraqi artist’s flood-inspired installation opens wider conversation about systems that sustain life.
At first glance, a collection of drawings, a sculptural structure and a series of water fountains may appear to be radically divergent entries within a gathering of contemporary art such as the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale. Yet, these disparate works – each a special commission – are united by a shared curiosity: an exploration of what it means to inhabit a place and participate in the cycles that sustain life, both natural and man-made.
Iraqi artist Rand Abdul Jabbar, who lives in the UAE, presents A Tale Before the Deluge, which transcends the boundaries of history and mythology in pursuit of a more anthropocentric understanding of heritage. The installation comprises charcoal and clay drawings on linen, stretched over traditional wooden mud-brick moulds, linking an ancient legacy shared by cultures across the world – the use of the most elemental materials and tools to build, mark and create.
