Monira Al Qadiri's Exhibition 'Hero' Explores Oil Industry's Contradictions and Legacy

Monira Al Qadiri's exhibition 'Hero' at the Berlinische Galerie centers on oil tankers as protagonists in the global petroleum economy. The artist, who grew up in Kuwait and witnessed the 1990-91 Gulf War as a child, connects personal memories of burning oil wells with broader questions about the industry's hidden violence and environmental impact. Her work investigates petroleum's dual nature as both wondrous and catastrophic, examining its pervasive influence on modern life. The exhibition features a large wall image of the supertanker Hero, miniature tankers with satirical names, and the video 'Oh Body of Mine,' which documents shipbreaking yards in Chittagong, Bangladesh, using drone footage. Al Qadiri collaborated with her sister, composer Fatima Al Qadiri, on the video's electronic score and incorporated an AI voice reciting an adaptation of Arthur Rimbaud's poem 'The Drunken Boat.' The artist reflects on how recent escalations in the Gulf region have made her work feel urgently relevant, noting the dystopian reality of ongoing ecological and economic fragility. She discusses the challenges of presenting oil-related art in sensitive regions where the topic is often avoided, and how humor and childhood perspective allow her to engage with difficult themes. The exhibition represents a continuation of her long-term exploration of petrochemical materials, which began with her 2013 work 'Behind the Sun,' based on amateur footage of the Kuwaiti oil fires.