© Mona Hatoum

Undercurrent, 2004
electrical cable, lightbulbs, and computerized dimmer unit, dimensions variable
Installation view: Mona Hatoum, Magasin 3, Stockholm, Sweden, 2004


Mona Hatoum
Mobile Home



Hatoum's work often draws on the everyday, using recognizable and familiar objects that have been transformed into unfamiliar and disquieting sculptures. In the centerpiece of the exhibition, "Mobile Home", furniture and other domestic objects are in perpetual motion within in a space defined by two barriers. Their movement produces a subtly unnerving, deeply meaningful yet playful effect. This work was partially inspired by the artist's visits to Venice during the planning of her participation in this year's Biennale.


A second large-scale work, "Undercurrent" will be exhibited on the gallery's third floor. A two-meter square grid of woven, fabric covered, electrical cable fans out into a fringe of long tendrils each capped by a light bulb. The bulbs slowly illuminate and fade out to a rhythmic and mesmerizing program. "Undercurrent" was originally created and exhibited at Magasin 3, Stockholm in 2004.


Continuing through November 6th, Hatoum is exhibiting "+ and - ", a motorized sand and metal sculpture in the Arsenale section of the Venice Biennale. Concurrent with her show at Alexander and Bonin, a one-person exhibition of her work will take place at the Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery, Reed College, Portland.


The artist was born into a Palestinian family in Beirut and has lived and worked in London since 1975. She was an Artist-in-Residence on the DAAD program (Berliner Künstlerprogramm, Deutscher Akademischer Austrauschdienst ) in 2003-2004 and has since divided her time between Berlin and London.


In 2004 the largest and most comprehensive survey of her work including new site-specific pieces was co-organized by the Hamburger Kunsthalle, the Kunstmuseum Bonn and Magasin 3 Stockholm Kunsthall. This exhibition traveled to all three venues as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney in 2005.


Hatoum was the 2004 winner of the prestigious Sonning Prize given biennially by the University of Copenhagen. She was also the 2004 winner of the Roswitha Haftmann prize from Zurich.


Exhibition: October 29 - December 22, 2005
Gallery hours: Tues-Sat 10 am - 6 pm


Alexander and Bonin Gallery
132 Tenth Avenue
USA-New York NY 10011
Telephone +1 212 367-7474
Fax +1 212 367-7337
Email gallery@alexanderandbonin.com

www.alexanderandbonin.com