Absence

Qbox Gallery is pleased to present the second solo exhibition in Greece of the video artist Ali Kazma (Until 31/03/2012).

Ali Kazma (Istanbul, 1971) is known for his Obstructions series where he meticulously documents different human activities related to production and labor. His unbiased viewpoint depicts with the same visual clarity and neutrality the violent process of animal slaughtering (Slaughterhouse, 2007), the dexterity and patience of clock-making (Clock Master, 2006) and brain surgery (Brain Surgeon, 2006) as well as the rapid and repetitive movement of stamping (O.K, 2010). Through a discrete way he enters into the realm of artists, artisans and professionals such as a taxidermist, a dancer, a painter, a cook, a studio ceramist, textile workers and elucidates with verisimilitude their work in process.

 

In his exhibition entitled Absence the artist has chosen to present his latest works called Absence (2011) and Written (2011). The first piece is displayed by two video projections where Kazma captures through multiple perspectives NATO’s old facilities, in which the intrinsic dynamic between human presence and absence recreates, but also reenacts another stream of consciousness towards the identity of the specific location. The latter work is depicted in a simultaneous six-channel video that records the burning process of written pieces of paper. The editing of the burning paper veils and unveils at the same time several phrases that instantly turn into ashes.

 

The paradoxical interrelation between life and death is enhanced in the Absence’s mute stillness combined with the subtle nature sounds that indicate the slightest evidence of life. Additionally, the disintegration of the paper and the included text is in a constant state of becoming that hovers between form and formlessness, growth and decay.

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