In a cavernous tate modern gallery in 2016, visitors could watch the world burn. Not literally, but nearly. In the corner of the room was an enormous glowing globe more than 2m tall. The continents were outlined in flickering red neon that, if you stood close enough, buzzed audibly. Inside the darkened room, it looked like the planet was on fire.
For Mona Hatoum, the artist behind this unsettling sculpture, that has sometimes felt like the case. Hatoum was born in Beirut in the 1950s to Palestinian parents who had fled their homeland. Like many Palestinians, neither Hatoum nor her parents were ever granted Lebanese identity cards. Then, at the age of 23, Hatoum was displaced once again. While she was on a short visit to London in 1975, civil war broke out in Lebanon, preventing her return. Her visit stretched to one year, then two, then became indefinite. To this day, Hatoum remains based in London.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, these early experiences of exile have influenced much of Hatoum’s career, which began with her staging politically charged performances before her focus shifted to creating unsettling sculptures and installations, like the blazing globe. “Of course, my background comes into my work because it’s part of my life,” Hatoum explains on a bright summer afternoon in her London studio. “But it comes about in subtle ways, so anybody who may have experienced displacement, disorientation or exile can relate to the work on their own terms. My work is not meant to illustrate the Palestinian experience; it’s about the human condition of exile.”
Denne historien er fra September 2018-utgaven av Singapore Tatler.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2018-utgaven av Singapore Tatler.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Louder Than You Think
It might not shout about itself, but among the world’s most influential people, Brunello Cucinelli is everywhere. Its co‑chairman and co‑creative director Carolina Cucinelli shares why the Italian brand’s high‑end ubiquity is built on its rock‑solid values
A New Era
La Prairie unveils the first product from its new collection, the Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream, an innovative creation that represents a new chapter in luxury skincare for those seeking to maintain healthy skin
Revolutionising Healthcare
Artificial intelligence is the future of healthcare, according to Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association CEO Harjit Gill. Ahead of its Asia Pacific MedTech Forum 2024, she outlines how a digitally driven healthcare system can improve access and outcomes for all
REBIRTH RENEWAL REWARD
Renowned artist Nari Ward gives Tatler a peek into his Harlem studio as he prepares for his solo exhibition in Seoul
Blurring Lines, Breaking Boundaries
Cartier’s creative director of jewellery and watches Marie-Laure Cérède on the maison’s commitment to creating statement-making timepieces for discerning luxury consumers
Tan Yin Ling
The co‑founder of Cloop on how her social enterprise is closing the loop on Singapore’s fashion waste
THE World IS YOUR Oyster
Tatler gets a taste of the luxe nomadic life aboard the world’s most exclusive residential ship as it sails from South Korea to Japan
HAUTE HOTELS
Find out where designers, models and fashionistas stay during Fashion Week
RAISING THE STEAKS
Hanwoo, Korea’s native beef, is celebrated not only for its flavourful meat but also its rich history and deep cultural significance. We explore the qualities and traditions that make Hanwoo a national treasure—and why the rest of the world needs to know about it
The Fashion Centennial
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Loro Piana looks back on its legacy of exceptional fabrics, textile innovation and savoir faire in its fall‑winter 2024‑2025 women’s and men’s collections