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Hassan Sharif / Iran/United Arab Emirates 1951–2016 / Cutting and tying no.2 2015 / Cotton rope and wool / 275 x 650 x 50cm / © Estate of Hassan Sharif and Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde, Dubai / Image courtesy: Estate of Hassan Sharif; Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde, Dubai; Alexander Gray Associates, New York; gb agency, Paris
Hassan SharifCutting and tying no.2 2015
Not Currently on Display
In the large-scale, abstract wall hanging Cutting and tying no.2 2015, Hassan Sharif built up the textured surface by cutting rope and tying it with wool. In this work, Sharif contrasts the mass-production of the factory with the unevenness of the handmade. The irregular action of the human hand can be seen in the way the wool is wrapped around the rope; the rope itself is machine-made, and this is evident in the even twists of its woven strands. The waste from rapid consumption was a deep concern for the artist, and cutting and tying objects — and displaying them in museums and galleries — highlights the absurdity of our desire to consume.
Hassan Sharif is an influential figure in the history of conceptual art in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition to his own practice, he was responsible for introducing a generation of artists to conceptual and Fluxus practices. He also translated artist manifestos and art historical texts into Arabic, and founded organisations that countered the emerging ‘national style’ in the UAE. Sharif is recognised for his ‘objects’ series of works — imported or discarded materials tied together with wire or string. Incorporating Fluxus influences, his practice relates to the history of carpet-making in the region.