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Muhannad Shono Saudi, b. 1977
On This Sacred Day, Al-Awal, 2022
Reclaimed foundry sand
39 3/8 x 35 3/8 x 157 1/2 in
100.0 x 90.0 x 400.0 cm
Price upon request.
100.0 x 90.0 x 400.0 cm
Price upon request.
Copyright The Artist
For the AlUla Art Residency open studios, MuhannadShono presents an installation composed of a blackstructure of reclaimed sand placed amongst the palmtrees of Mabiti AlUla’s palm-grove. Made of sand-castbrick segments,...
For the AlUla Art Residency open studios, MuhannadShono presents an installation composed of a blackstructure of reclaimed sand placed amongst the palmtrees of Mabiti AlUla’s palm-grove. Made of sand-castbrick segments, this structure becomes a ritualisticcatafalque-like structure where palm materials are laiddown to rest, and then burned. A journey of plant, ash,smoke and sky, of cycle of death and renewal unfoldinginside a living oasis. Amongst the smoke that rises arestories of comings and goings, loss and remembrance.The burning of trees has also been noted in the oasis asan act of protest against the coming of change, a lamentof the losing of the familiar and the familial. Control burnsfor overgrown and dense or dry vegetation is oftennecessary in order to prevent uncontrollable wildfires.Thus purposeful change and transformation becomesurgent to safeguard against fires that may seek to burnthe world to ash.