They Will Be Seen Competing In Constructing Lofty Buildings (2014) Saudi Artist NASSER AL SALE
They Will Be Seen Competing In Constructing Lofty Buildings (2014) Saudi Artist NASSER AL SALEM Returning to his architectural roots, Nasser Al Salem’s most recent concrete sculptural work presents a powerful critique of the construction and building boom that has defined the Middle Eastern Gulf countries. Much like his previous work, which employed Islamic texts into the formation of his artwork, he bases this sculpture and critique on a hadith attributed to the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in which he describes the extravagant competition in construction as being one of the signs of judgment day. Al Salem beautifully incorporates an excerpt “يتطاولون في البنيان" of this hadith into his sculpture, which can be literally read in the second image; 2D top-view. This inclusion of the excerpt in a manner than can only be viewed from the top, insinuates that we need to dissociate ourselves from our surroundings in order to critically understand their influence on our lives. The excerpt of the hadith is also the artwork’s title. -- source link
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