Walid Raad's Museum of Mortal Guilt Opens in Ljubljana

Walid Raad's showcase at Moderna galerija Ljubljana, part of the Festival of (In)Gratitude, features pieces from his three ongoing endeavors: The Atlas Group (1989–2004), Scratching on Things I Could Disavow, and Sweet Talk: Beirut (Commissions). This exhibition unveils the Museum of Mortal Guilt, a fresh iteration within Scratching on Things I Could Disavow that integrates Slovenian and (post-)Yugoslav elements. Raad utilizes the situated museum model from Moderna galerija to propose alternative museological frameworks and art historical narratives that differ from those in the Arab region (Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, Egypt). Engaging with Jalal Toufic's idea of "guilt before the dead" from his book (Vampires), Raad explores death as an inherent aspect of life, documenting narratives from the undead, including curses and sweat stains on structures, as well as painted pallets used by Lebanese militias for weapon transport to Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. The exhibition examines the impact of ongoing violence on collective and individual experiences, questioning how disasters influence artistic elements like color, line, and volume. While Raad's work is often associated with Western conceptual art and institutional critique, the press release highlights his focus on Toufic's concept of "the withdrawal of tradition past a surpassing disaster" as a significant differentiation.