Lot 118: Untitled 5 (Self Portrait Series)

Tarek Al-Ghoussein (Palestinian-Kuwaiti, b. 1962)
Untitled 5 (Self Portrait Series)
archival digital print
23 5/8 x 31½in. (60 x 80cm.)
Executed in 2003, this work is number five from an edition of six plus two artist proofs

London, Recognize, June-September 2007
Abu Dhabi, Cultural Centre, Languages of the Desert, March-June 2007
Muscat, Art in Public Spaces, February-April
2007
Sharjah, College of Fine Arts, Self Portrait, A, B, and C Series, December 2007
Copenhagen, Royal Photography Museum, Under the Last Sky, Sep-December 2006
Copenhagen, Banner, Images of the Middle East, September 2006
Heidelberg, Heidelberg Museum, Heidelberg, Political Realities, October 2006
Madrid, Tierra, exilio, CREACION CUENCA, December 2006-January 2007 Bahrain, Al Riwaq, December 2006 -February 20O7
Amman, Darat Al-Funun, Checkpoints,February-April 2006
Derby, UK, Q Arts-Gallery, March-April 2006
North Carolina, McColl Art Center, Confronting Cliches, McColl Art Center, March-May 2006
Newcastle, UK, Side Gallery,April-May 2006
Dublin, Gallery of Photography, Dec 2005-Feb 2006
Berlin, Ifa Gallery, Self Portraits, Germany February-June 2006
Paris, Institute Du Monde Arabe, April 24-July 9 2006
Damascus, French International photo Fest, May 2006
New York, Aperture Gallery, Nazar: Photographs from the Arab World, September-December 2005 (illustrated 2004, p.39)
Bonn, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Sep-November 2005
Prague, Langhans Gallery, Prague,July-August 2005
Madrid, La Boca Gallery, March-April 2005
Houston, International Fotofest, April-June 2005
Stuttgart, Ifa Gallery, November-December 2005
Copenhagen, Specta Art Gallery, August-October 2004
Copenhagen Art Fair, 2006
Netherlands, Noorderlicht International Photography Exhibition, Sep-November 2004
Dhaka, Bangladesh, Chobi Mella, International Photography Exhibition, December 2004
Copenhagen, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, October-December 2003
Auckland, New Zealand, Randolph Street Gallery, Julyh-September 2003
Sharjah, International Biennial, April-June 2003

Seth Thompson, After Image March -April 2007 (illustrated on cover and pp.10-12)
Installations 2006,
The Palestinian Diary Jan, 2007 pp.27-28,45-46
J. Dakhlia, Des Art En Tensions, September, (illustrated on cover and pp.440-443
Jack Persekian, "Anywhere But Home" Bidoun, Spring Issue, pp.38-40 Merel Bem, deVolkskrant, Amsterdam, September 4 (illustrated p.9)

The mythical Sisyphus was an unfortunate figure who was sentenced by the gods to spend eternity rolling a stone up a hill, only to have it roll back down to the bottom each time. Tarek Al-Ghoussein believes that according to the clichis of Western media, present day Palestine endures a similar punishment- engaged in an endless, meaningless, cyclical struggle. In a series of self-portraits Al-Ghoussein critiques the cliche of the Palestinians that, particularly after September 11 seems to be ineradicable in the Western media.'
The present image is from series in which Al-Ghossein presents himself as the stereotypical Palestinian terrorist, wearing all black, his head wrapped completely in a scarf(kuffiyeh), which he believes has become a symbol of terrorism, both in the West and in the Arab world. Ironically, as if to illustrate this, he was arrested on suspicion by local police whilst shooting this series.