Ali Cherri's 'How I Am Monument' Opens at Baltic in April 2025

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is set to unveil its first significant UK institutional exhibition featuring artist Ali Cherri, titled 'How I Am Monument,' on April 12, 2025. This exhibition builds upon a collaboration with the Vienna Secession, where it was previously displayed from December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025. Cherri's work delves into the themes of violence against bodies, objects, and nature within conflict zones, scrutinizing the influence of colonialism, nationalism, and geopolitics on history and cultural significance. Highlights include new pieces such as 'Sphinx' (2024), a mud-and-bronze sculpture inspired by Assyrian and Egyptian art, and 'Toppled Monuments 1-6' (2024), wooden sculptures representing empty plinths linked to the Arab Spring, post-Soviet statue removals, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Additional works include 'Tree of Life' (2023), a bronze piece modeled after a Mesopotamian relief, and 'Of Men and Gods and Mud' (2022), a three-channel video shot at Sudan's Merowe Dam, which earned Cherri the Silver Lion at the 59th Venice Biennale. The expanded exhibition also showcases the short film 'The Watchman' (2023) set in Cyprus, alongside the sculpture 'The Seven Soldiers.' Curated by Emma Dean, the exhibition will take place at Baltic in Gateshead.