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Our Home / دارنا
A Solo Show by COMBO curated by Najlaa El-Ageli, 25 November 2021 - 7 January 2022

Our Home / دارنا: A Solo Show by COMBO curated by Najlaa El-Ageli

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Overview
COMBO, The Queen Kaftan, 2021, Acrylic ink on paper, 120 x 80 cm
COMBO, The Queen Kaftan, 2021, Acrylic ink on paper, 120 x 80 cm

Curatorial Note by Najlaa El-Ageli:

Combo’s North African cultural roots mix with a European consciousness, giving him an unusual perspective that is reflecte  in his artwork. With this particular installation, he tackles the social and political environment, taking the observer into a space of familiar and unfamiliar iconography that reference the duality of diasporic culture. With this work, also, he is exploring the issue of contemporary identity, that is driven by hyper consumerism and materialism. Influenced by a fun pop art sense of humour with glimmers of cynicism, Combo acts as a public commentator who is rejoicing in his hybrid identity. In particular, he likes to manipulate globally recognised consumerist objects that we can all relate to and share; and, then, allowing them to encompass a critical interplay between Western and non-Western culture. He then playfully pushes forward the maghrebisation of the Western brands to at once critique Western superiority, yet presenting their new added value when they are adopted by the local Arab market. The interactive installation works by recreating the intimate domestic space of a sitting room and how it may be fantasised by the Orientalist gaze, thus inviting the participant to discuss and investigate the evolution of the relationship between two complex cultural entities, using art as a space of a new narrative and perspective.

 

About the artist:

Combo, aka Combo Culture Kidnapper, is a French street artist born to a Lebanese-Christian father and a Moroccan-Muslim mother. His North African cultural roots blend with a European consciousness, giving him an unusual perspective that is reflected in his work. In this exhibition "Our home / دارنا " - his first one in London - he tackles the cultural, social and political environment, bringing the observer into a space of familiar iconography that refers to the duality of his culture. With a pop-art sense of humour tinted with hints of cynicism, Combo acts as a public commentator who enjoys his hybrid identity. In particular, he likes manipulating consumerist objects and globally recognised icons that we can all relate to, by adding Arabic details to them. He also presents in a playful way the mixture of his two cultures, denouncing the superiority of one culture over another and bringing a new perspective to them. For this exhibition, he invites us into his home, into his living room. The interactive installation recreates the intimate domestic space of a Moroccan living room fantasised by the orientalist gaze, thus inviting the participant to reflect upon the evolution of the relationships between Western and non-Western cultures, using art as a vector for dialogue and openness to others.

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Works
  • COMBO, CoeXisT I, 2019
    COMBO, CoeXisT I, 2019
  • COMBO, CoeXisT II, 2019
    COMBO, CoeXisT II, 2019
  • COMBO, Berber Girl with a Pearl Earring, 2021
    COMBO, Berber Girl with a Pearl Earring, 2021
  • COMBO, Mouna Lisa, 2021
    COMBO, Mouna Lisa, 2021
  • COMBO, The Queen's Kaftan , 2021
    COMBO, The Queen's Kaftan , 2021
  • COMBO, A Smoking Girl, 2021
    COMBO, A Smoking Girl, 2021
  • COMBO, Najmaunot, 2021
    COMBO, Najmaunot, 2021
  • COMBO, Fox Hunters, 2021
    COMBO, Fox Hunters, 2021
  • COMBO, Family women, 2021
    COMBO, Family women, 2021
  • COMBO, Illustrator, 2021
    COMBO, Illustrator, 2021
  • COMBO, Berber Horse, 2021
    COMBO, Berber Horse, 2021
  • COMBO, A Queen Lying, 2021
    COMBO, A Queen Lying, 2021
  • COMBO, Stickers, 2021
    COMBO, Stickers, 2021
  • COMBO, Kid playing, 2021
    COMBO, Kid playing, 2021
  • COMBO, Mezquita , 2021
    COMBO, Mezquita , 2021
  • COMBO, Mezquita Ruin, 2021
    COMBO, Mezquita Ruin, 2021
  • COMBO, A Lake, 2021
    COMBO, A Lake, 2021
  • COMBO, A Bike, 2021
    COMBO, A Bike, 2021
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Publications
  • Our Home // دارنا

    Our Home // دارنا

    COMBO 2021 Read more
Related content
  • Our Home // دارنا Publications

    Our Home // دارنا

    COMBO Nov 24, 2021
    Curatorial Statement by Najlaa El-Ageli: Combo’s North African cultural roots mix with a European consciousness, giving him an unusual perspective that is reflected in his...
    Read more

Related artist

  • COMBO

    COMBO

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