THE STATE

The State Social/Antisocial?

Group show featuring works from The Third Line, Traffic and The Farook Collection

21 September 2011 - End of October 2011

SOCIAL / ANTISOCIAL? is inspired by and, a continuation from, previous shows at Traffic also titled ‘THE STATE’. This exhibition resumes a dialogue explored earlier in shows held at Traffic: THE STATE (2010), the inaugural exhibition, questioned the socio-political state post September 11; and UPPERS & DOWNERS (2011) ran a commentary on the global condition, from an economic perspective, with the city of Dubai as a focal point. This third installment of investigation combines works from the collection of The Third Line, Traffic and The Farook Collection, and is exhibited at both galleries to connect the conversations previously limited to one physical space.

This exhibition aims to move beyond mere presentation and aspires to act as a forum on socialization and the current state of people and behavior. With a focus on the various social aspects of the current “state” of today, the show puts a mirror up to the face of society for self-observation and self- reflection through the subjects of the works themselves, as well as the social, psychological and emotional impact on the viewers.
The works featured at both venues examine the social and human condition by posing questions about how society operates. Artists such as Arwa Abouon and Slavs and Tatars question belief in faith, tradition, and ritual; Fouad Elkoury, Hassan Hajjaj, Ahmed Mater, Hesam Rahmanian document the everyday in all its glory; Tracey Emin, Susan Hefuna, Damien Hirst, Huda Lutfi, and Youssef Nabil depict emotional expression, nostalgia, and memory; and James Clar, Abdulnasser Gharem and Aman Mojadidi address the aspect of the anti-social.
THE STATE: SOCIAL / ANTISOCIAL? takes the viewer on a journey of self discovery with the artworks at its starting point, contemplation as its road, and self revelation as its ultimate destination - defining society as individuals and as a collective.