Bani Abidi's 'They Died Laughing' at Gropius Bau

The Gropius Bau in Berlin presents a comprehensive solo exhibition of Pakistani artist Bani Abidi (born 1971 in Karachi), titled 'They Died Laughing,' running until September 22, 2019. The show, curated by Natasha Ginwala, spans Abidi's career from early videos like 'Mangoes' (1999) and 'The News' (2001) to recent works. A key project, 'The Lost Procession,' commissioned by the Sharjah Art Foundation and curated by Hoor Al-Qasimi, addresses the ethnic persecution and exodus of the Hazara people from Quetta, Balochistan, to Germany. At the Gropius Bau, located near the former Berlin Wall, the installation gains broader significance as a meditation on borders and memory. The exhibition also features 'Security Barriers A-Z' (2008-2018), a series of miniature replicas of barriers used in Karachi, and lightboxes depicting Christian and Hindu minorities ('Karachi Series II'). Abidi, a Berlin resident since 2011, uses video and installation to intertwine personal stories with geopolitical issues, including India-Pakistan tensions and South Asian unresolved conflicts. Her work employs irony and absurdity to critique nationalism and social divisions.