Attia‘s past and life in a Paris suburb where the graves of the French royal dynasties are to be found and which is also a hotspot of inter-cultural conflict has had a decisive impact on his work. Using his own identity that has been defined by several cultures as the starting point, he tackles the increasingly difficult relationship between Europe and immigrants, particularly those of Islamic faith. In doing so he does not allow himself to be tied down to one specific medium. His photographic work and films portray the smoldering conflicts arising from the history of French colonies and are characterized by exceptional attention to detail. The allegorical minimalism of his sculptures and installations on the other hand is frequently unsettling owing to the discord between their external sensory appeal and their controversial content. He then builds installations questioning the viewer about his fantasies and phobias.
Square Dreams, 2008
Kasbah, 2008
Education
1996-98 Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris
1993-94 Escola de Artes Applicades “ La Massana “, Barcelona / Spain
1991-93 Ecole Supérieure des Arts Appliqués “ Duperré “, Paris
Solo shows
2009
Galerie Christian Nagel, Cologne / Germany
Andréhn-Schiptjenko, Stockholm / Sweden
2008
Noga gallery, Tel Aviv / Israel
Albion gallery, Londres / UK
“Signs of Reappropriation” The Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta / USA
“Black & white : signs of times”, Centro de Arte Contemporaneo, Huarte / Spain
Mythes et Poésie du Vide, Galerie Anne de Villepoix, Paris / France
Kader Attia – New Works, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle / USA
2007
Momentum 9, ICA, Boston / USA
Square Dreams, BALTIC Center for Contemporary Art, Newcastle / UK
Who cares ?, Haïfa Museum of Art, Haïfa / Israel
Christian Nagel gallery, Berlin / Germany
2006
Tsunami, Magasin, National Center for Contemporary Art, Grenoble / France
Kader Attia, Lyon Contemporary Art Museum, Lyon / France
Sweet sweat, Andréhn-Schiptjenko gallery, Stockholm / Sweden
2005
The Gallery @ Sketch, London / UK
2004
HALLAL, Kamel Mennour gallery, Paris / France
2002 Alter Ego, Kamel Mennour gallery, Paris / France
2001 Photostories, Martine et Thibault de la Châtre, Paris / France
2000 La Piste d’Atterrissage, l’Atelier, National Center for Photography, Paris / France
1997 Instants Urbains, Galerie L’œil du huit, Paris / France
1996 Humanistes au Congo, Centre culturel Français de Brazzaville, Brazzaville / Congo
Group Shows
2009
Havana Biennale, Havana / Cuba
La Force de l’Art, Grand Palais, Paris / France
African Icons, Jack Shainman gallery, New York / USA
2008
Travesia, las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands / Spain
In the desert of modernity, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin / Germany
Pontevedra Biennale, Pontevedra / Spain
Representations of the artist as an intellectual, D21 Kunstraum, Leipzig / Germany
Traversée, Art Paris, Paris / France
Elefante Negro, Diego Rivera Museum, Mexico DF / Mexico
2007
Suite Française, Krinzinger Projekte, Vienna / Austria
The Big Easy, Halle 14, Leipzig / Germany
Sulpture Park, Frieze Art Fair, London / UK
Theater of Cruelty, White Box, New York / USA
New Economy, The Artists Space, New York / USA
Dialogues méditerranéens, St Tropez / France
Accélération, Centre d’Art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel / Switzerland
L ‘Emprise du Lieu #4, Domaine Pommery, Reims / France
Politics of Fear, Albion, Londres / UK
2006
1st Art, Landscape & Architecture Biennial, Canary Islands / Spain
Nuit Blanche, Paris / France
Infinities, Art Unlimited, Art Basel 37, Basel / Switzerland
Take a walk on the wild side, de Pury & Luxembourg gallery, Zurich / Switzerland
Notre Histoire, Palais de Tokyo, Paris / France
2005
Meeting Point, Sternersen Museum, Oslo / Norway
In between times, Tramway, Glasgow / UK
Regards des photographes arabes contemporains, Institute of the Arab World, Paris / France
Big Bang, Jewish Art and History Museum, Paris / France
Nominated for the Marcel Duchamp Prize, FIAC, Paris / France
Expérience de la durée, 8th Lyon Biennale, Lyon / France
Living for the City, J. Shainman gallery, New York / USA
The Loop, Art Unlimited, Art Basel 36, Basel / Switzerland
SingulierS, Guangdong Museum of Art, Canton / China
2004
The Sweatshop, Art Position, Art Basel Miami, Miami / USA
Videozone, Video Art Biennale, Herzliya Museum, Tel Aviv / Israel
Near East Project, Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfort / Germany
Continental Breakfast, Belgrade / Czech Republic
Shake, OK Centrum für Gegenwartskunst, Linz / Austria
Shake, Villa Arson, Nice / France
2003
Correspondance, Statement Area, Art Basel 34, Basel / Switzerland
Fault Lines, 50th Venice Biennale, Venice / Italy
Voyages d’Artistes, Foundation Electra, Paris / France
Ouvertures Algériennes : créations vivantes, La Criée, Rennes / France
2002
Les vertus sont des titres, les souffrances sont des droits, FRAC Poitou-Charentes,
Angoulême / France
2001
L’Alchimie de la rencontre, FRAC Champagne-Ardenne, Reims / France
L’état des choses part.1, Kunst-werke, Institut d’Art Contemporain, Berlin / Germany
Residency Programs
2009
Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship Program. National Museum of African Art of the Smithsonian Institution. Washington DC, U.S.A
2008
JCVA, Jerusalem / Israel
IASPIS, Stockholm / Sweden
Grants / Fellowships / Prizes
2005 Nominee for the Marcel Duchamp Prize
1997 The Leica Special Prize / “ Une Algérie d ‘Enfance”