Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme on Multiplicity and Resistance
Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme, collaborating as Basel and Ruanne, investigate innovative possibilities for Palestine through various artistic mediums such as video, sound, and installation. The duo, who first crossed paths in London 15 years ago, labels their work as 'adisciplinary.' Their earlier project, 'And Yet My Mask is Powerful' (2016–18), showcases a five-channel video projection alongside modified 3D-printed Neolithic masks, delving into themes of apocalypse and alternative narratives. Currently, they are working on 'May amnesia never kiss us on the mouth' (2020–ongoing), which features archival audio and live performances in Ramallah, initially intended for MoMA but evolving into a digital platform. Their installations invite emotional engagement while maintaining conceptual rigor. This profile was published in Canvas 110: It’s Electrifying.
Key facts
- Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme are an artist duo who met in London 15 years ago.
- They describe their practice as 'adisciplinary,' moving between video, sound, installation, performance, and digital media.
- Their work 'And Yet My Mask is Powerful' (2016–18) includes a five-channel video projection and hacked 3D-printed Neolithic masks from the West Bank.
- The project references young Palestinians visiting destroyed villages inside Israel.
- They challenge linear time and colonial-capitalist systems through repetition, return, and archival material.
- Their ongoing project 'May amnesia never kiss us on the mouth' features archival recordings from Iraq, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen.
- New performances in Ramallah involve dancer Rima Baransi and musicians Haykal, Julmud, and Makimakkuk.
- The project was originally planned for live presentation at MoMA but became a digital platform.
- They use digital spaces, publishing, and performance to widen access beyond Western Europe and America.
- The profile was published in Canvas 110: It’s Electrifying.
Entities
Artists
- Basel Abbas
- Ruanne Abou-Rahme
- Rima Baransi
- Haykal
- Julmud
- Makimakkuk
Institutions
- Middlesex University
- Goldsmiths College
- MoMA
- Canvas
Locations
- London
- New York
- Palestine
- Israel
- West Bank
- Iran
- Syria
- Yemen
- Iraq
- Ramallah
- Western Europe
- America