Kuwaiti Artist Aseel AlYaqoub Reclaims Colonial Narratives Through Research and Art
Aseel AlYaqoub, a Kuwaiti artist, presents her solo exhibition titled The View from Above at Bildmuseet, under the curation of Anca Rujoiu. The exhibition delves into Kuwait's history from colonial viewpoints, emphasizing nation-building through urban planning and cartography. Her video installation, 100 Soldiers Somersaulting (2020), encapsulates 45 years of Kuwaiti history, blending parody with archival materials. Although Kuwait gained independence in 1961, British influence lingered until the Gulf War. AlYaqoub critiques colonial mimicry, as seen in the shemagh, and her work Culture Fair (2018) interrogates historical utopias via postage stamps. Additionally, she highlights demolished walls in Heritage Wall no. 6 (2015) and collaborates with institutions like Jameel Arts Centre. Notably, her great-great grandfather was an anti-imperialist fighter. This interview was featured in Canvas 116: Time After Time.
Key facts
- Aseel AlYaqoub is a Kuwaiti artist focusing on colonial history and nation-building.
- Her solo exhibition The View from Above is at Bildmuseet, curated by Anca Rujoiu.
- Kuwait's first Master Plan was designed from an airplane by the British.
- Her video 100 Soldiers Somersaulting (2020) covers 45 years of Kuwaiti history in 45 minutes.
- The shemagh was designed by British Lieutenant-General John Bagot Glubb.
- AlYaqoub's great-great grandfather fought against the British in Basra, Iraq, and was exiled to Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
- The original National Museum of Kuwait was the Sheikh Khazal Palace, destroyed during the Gulf War.
- She runs studio spaces for younger artists in Kuwait, promoting resource sharing and non-linear history.
Entities
Artists
- Aseel AlYaqoub
- Alia Farid
Institutions
- Bildmuseet
- Jameel Arts Centre
- Canvas
Locations
- Kuwait
- Kuwait City
- Basra
- Iraq
- Ceylon
- Sri Lanka