In a bleak yet beautiful display of extraordinary sculpture, Syrian born artist, Diana Al-Hadid, has developed an aesthetic that seems to provide a glimpse into ancient architecture. With structures that seem to be both carefully crafted and delicately falling into ruin, she reminds us of the complexity of civilization and the tragedy of its limits and conflicts.
Though Al-Hadid left Syria at an early age (she moved to suburban Ohio when she was 5), her work echoes of her birthplace, the historic city of Aleppo (inhabited as early as the 6,000 BC). After studying art history and sculpture, she began crafting her architectural creations that reference such historical figures as Pieter Brughel – the renaissance painter, Ariadne – the princess of Crete, and Al Jazari – the Muslim inventor.
Now based out of Brooklyn, Al-Hadid builds her structures out of common materials such as wax, Styrofoam, metal, wood and cardboard. Of her creative process, she told Interview Magazine: “I have a tendency to build in a spontaneous way […] It feels like it comes more out of my personality or out of my process than it comes out of a conceptual framework, or kind of a commentary about the psychology of ruins – which is fascinating.”
Al-Hadid is represented by the Marianne Boesky Gallery in New York. She has had an impressive number of solo shows and museum exhibitions throughout the world, and recently displayed her work at The 56th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia.
To keep track of her upcoming shows, follow her on Facebook!