Jasmina Metwaly, Remarks on Medan (Tahrir Version) (2011)

Medium: Video Painting, Projection, Color and no sound

Dimensions: 12 Scapes | Duration: 59 min., 23 sec.

Collection: Video Painting Solo Series

Edition of 7

Reference: VPSS-JMRM11

Returning to Egypt in 2011, Metwaly worked over several weeks during the political protests on Azadi (or Freedom) Square capturing the unrest and changing moments of human action. From this footage comes her first collection for Open Gallery, a thought-provoking commentary in silent moving images on the events that unveiled.

"In Tahrir Square everything happens in a circle. One may enter as a viewer. Moving towards it, the border of the circle expands. Eventually, one is seized, enveloped into the expanding perpetual motion of change and uncertainty. One becomes multiple. One becomes the many, en masse, moving as one. Videographing a still video in a moving world is challenging. When there is no time to set up a tripod or go and search for a still vantage point because this moment- this moment- will pass. It requires you to remain still - very still - while the world moves around the lens through which it is captured. It is almost impossible. This challenge of impossibility saturates the out-coming work. Remarks on Medan is situated somewhere between the moment and the memory. Remarks are like reminders that were once developed now turn into mirrors of themselves." Jasmina Metwaly

In Metwaly's work a constant starting point is a belief that reality relies on an idea which claims that the world owns an objective fundament and you just need to remove the illusion to reach it. Being culturally, mentally and literally suspended between several geographic locations is a sense that is reflected in much of her work.

Metwaly’s work has been exhibited international at venues including Townhouse Gallery, Cairo, Egypt (2010); Maktab, Cairo (2010); BWA Wrocław, the 9th Geppert Contest for Polish young painters, Wrocław (2009); Islington Arts Factory, London (2009); Lauderdale House, London (2009); and X-Ray Gallery, Lubon, Poland (2008).

Jasmina Metwaly was the winner of The Open Prize 2010. Click here to view The Open Prize collection.