Bassam Al-Sabah on Building Digital Worlds with CGI

Bassam Al-Sabah, an Iraqi-born artist, uses CGI to construct digital worlds that question reality. Growing up in Iraq until age 10, he played video games with his sister, sparking an interest in world-building. He avoids photorealism, taking his work 90% of the way there and using the remaining 10% to create tension and play. His film 'Wandering, wandering with a sun on my back' (2018) features convulsing flowers, exploring decomposition and life. With his sister, an architect, he remade their Iraqi house in CGI for 'Fenced within the silent cold walls' (2018), which includes his grandmother speaking about losing her home. The film resonates emotionally with Middle Eastern audiences. His 30-minute film 'I AM ERROR' (2021), commissioned by Gasworks, uses a circular narrative to evoke trauma. His new film 'IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS' (2021) continues themes from the Gasworks show. Al-Sabah often splits projects into two parts to avoid overwhelming content creation.