Section 139: The Atlas Group (1989-2004), 2008

Section 139: The Atlas Group (1989-2004), 2008

Between 1989 and 2004, I worked on a project titled “The Atlas Group.” It consisted of artworks made possible by the Lebanese wars of the past few decades.
In 2005, I was asked to exhibit this project for the first time in Lebanon, in Beirut’s first-of-its-kind white-cube art gallery.
​For some reason this offer perturbed me and I refused.
​In 2006, I was asked again. I refused again.
In 2007, I was asked again. I refused again.
In 2008, I was asked again. I agreed.
Weeks later, when I went to the gallery to inspect my exhibition before its opening, I was startled to find that all my artworks had shrunk to 1/100th of their original size.
​I subsequently decided to build a smaller white cube befitting my works’ new dimensions, and to display them there.