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of art by this artist.
Mona Hatoum Biography
Mona Hatoum, born in 1952 in Beirut, Lebanon, to a Palestinian family, is a British-Palestinian multimedia and installation artist whose work has been internationally acclaimed for its poignant exploration of themes such as home and displacement, surveillance, and the body. Hatoum's art is deeply influenced by her personal history of displacement and her experiences living in exile, which have shaped her approach to creating art that interrogates the complexities of identity, politics, and power.
Hatoum's early life in Beirut was marked by the political instability and conflict that would later become central themes in her work. Despite her family's Palestinian heritage, they were unable to obtain Lebanese citizenship, a fact that underscored the sense of dislocation and exclusion that Hatoum would later explore in her art. In 1975, Hatoum's visit to London coincided with the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War, preventing her return home and effectively beginning her life in exile.
Hatoum's artistic journey began with her studies in graphic design at Beirut University College, but it was her forced stay in London that led her to pursue a career in art. She enrolled at the Byam Shaw School of Art and later attended the Slade School of Fine Art, where she developed her distinctive approach to art-making. Initially focusing on performance and video art in the 1980s, Hatoum's early works were direct and confrontational, often using her own body to make political statements about violence, oppression, and the vulnerability of the individual.
By the late 1980s, Hatoum shifted her focus towards sculpture and installation, employing a wide range of materials to create works that engage viewers in a dialogue about the contradictions and conflicts inherent in our global society. Her installations often incorporate domestic objects, transforming the familiar into the uncanny and revealing the underlying tensions and dangers of the everyday. Through her use of grids, geometric forms, and household items, Hatoum critiques systems of control and surveillance, while also reflecting on the personal and political dimensions of home and belonging.
One of Hatoum's most iconic works, "Measures of Distance" (1988), is a video installation that combines images of her mother showering with overlaid Arabic text and a soundtrack of their conversations. This deeply personal work addresses themes of exile, displacement, and the intimate bond between mother and daughter, while also exploring the broader political context of the Lebanese Civil War.
Another significant work, "Hot Spot" (2013), presents a globe outlined in neon red, turning the entire world into a zone of conflict and unrest. This powerful sculpture highlights the pervasive nature of global tensions and the omnipresence of political and civil strife.
Throughout her career, Hatoum has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including being shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1995 and receiving the Joan Miró Prize in 2011. Her work has been exhibited in major institutions worldwide, including the Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Hatoum's art continues to challenge and inspire, offering a nuanced and critical perspective on the issues that define our contemporary world. Through her innovative use of materials and her ability to weave together the personal and the political, Mona Hatoum has established herself as one of the most important artists of her generation, whose work resonates with a profound sense of humanity and a relentless questioning of the status quo.
Mona Hatoum Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
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