Prophecies and Deceits

Private View: Friday 10th April – 6.00 pm to 11.00 pm (music)
End View: Wednesday 15th April – 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm
Exhibition runs from: Friday 10th April to 16th April 2009
Gallery Opening Hours: Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon – Wed 2.30 pm – 6.30 pm
Last day of exhibition: Thursday 16th of April from 11 am to 5 pm

The key issues tackled within the body of work of the forthcoming installation are concealment, transparency and hidden messages. ‘Prophecies and Deceits’ uses motifs and words to explore the correlation between religion and politics, creating a pseudo-religious space that seeks to draw attention to the intrinsic relationship between religion, the media and war.

Inspired by Arabian Mashrabiyah designs, ‘Enlightenments’ as part of Luqman’s art installation, is a series of light boxes each overlaid with an ornate lattice. Historically, Mashrabiyahs, delicately carved screens on windows or balconies, could be considered as an early form of tinted windows. It allowed someone from the inside to look out without being seen. Hence, the Mashrabiyah screens were frequently used to cover the windows of the women’s quarters within homes. Concealment was employed as a form of control for both observer and spectator. With her series of light boxes, Luqman underlines the concept of concealment and control. The light box or Mashrabiyah can be equated to the contemporary billboard; as onlookers we do not know who or what is hidden behind it. We can only contemplate or ultimately speculate on its disguised message. These lattices could veil images that are unexpected or even disconcerting.

Questioning motives behind political rhetoric and its consequences on truth ‘Pitch’, equally part of the same body of work continues the theme of concealment and revelation. Luqman dissects speeches by world leaders, singling out each spoken word, in order to physically dislocate each from its original utterance. By doing so each word regains its status, yet looses cohesion and the power to tell lies or truths. Within Luqman’s installation each word appears weightless, without foundation, vibrating with the slightest movement nearby.

South Yemen born, British artist Sousan Luqman’s first hand experience of war informs her work, bringing personal insight into current global issues with a cynicism for power and politics.