Yemeni-Bosnian Artist to Reveal Anticipated Sculpture at Arab American National Museum Tomorrow
By Simon Albaugh – Yemeni American News
Dearborn, Mich. – An installation from Yemeni-Bosnian Artist Alia Ali will be coming to the Arab American National Museum, and on Mar. 19, made available for viewing to the public.
Alia Ali is a multi-disciplinary artist whose photography has been featured in fine arts publications around the world. Ali’s work has been shown in galleries and major art institutions in Europe, the United States and the Middle East and North Africa.
A press release from the Arab American National Museum offers little details on what the sculpture will look like, instead telling readers the sculpture will be an extension of Ali’s previous themes and aesthetic goals.
“Although details of the sculpture – entitled al-Falaq – are being kept under wraps, the piece is set to blast off at the end of March,” the press release reads. “It is understood that the artwork is in line with the artist’s futurism vision and manifesto focusing on carving out radical, newly imagined futures for her native Yemen.”
A statement provided by the artist also provides little details, instead calling for an understanding that the sculpture will provide a political statement against many established institutions, including the relationship between the art world and the military industrial complex.
“At a time when sculptures and what they represent have finally been seen as a political statement with significant meanings, I’m honored to have been commissioned by the Arab American National Museum – for the space and trust and the support to produce something bold, brave, beautiful and highly critical of relationships between museums, private collections, and the military industrial complex,” Ali said.
Despite little details about al-Falaq are being released, Dr. Diana Abouali, Director of the Arab American National Museum, expressed excitement over the sculpture and its themes, saying that Alia Ali is an artist who has earned the excitement.
“The Arab American Museum is thrilled to have commissioned Alia for this new and exciting project, especially after a long hiatus,” Dr. Abouali said. “We know her work to be visionary, beautiful and provocative, so we are excited to see how audiences engage with al-Falaq and what kind of conversations it will spark.”
Al-Falaq is being produced by Ali and a team of Detroit and Dearborn-based artists. Ali says this decision was in order to acknowledge the economic impact of artists.
“I’m honored to be working with an entirely Detroit-based team in a time when we, as creatives, must acknowledge the economic impact that we have to not only support the narratives they are telling, but also the communities that support their existence.
Al-Falaq will be revealed tomorrow, Mar. 19 at the Arab American National Museum. Tickets starting at $10 are required for the event.
