Editions Imogene (with the support of the Antoine de Galbert Foundation) publishes Privatethe artist’s book Aalam.
Regime collapses mark our collective memory. The images of dictators finally defeated, totally vulnerable, have indelibly imprinted our retinas. Benito Mussolini hanging by his feet, Muammar Gaddafi on his knees, Saddam Hussein haggard… With the same aim of annihilating the monstrous power of these tyrants, the Egyptian artist Aalam chose to divert photographs of these men from collections (public or private) or media. The subjects have in common that they seem to forget themselves for a moment, breaking with the canons of their official propaganda: Idi Amin Dada in a swimming pool, Adolf Hitler prostrate, staring at the ceiling, Kim Jong-un, his gaze lost in his plate . From there, the artist’s manipulation: an incongruous association with other clichés to create surprising, entertaining, even ridiculous fictional moments, especially as they are supplemented by a caption and copyright rewritten by Aalam.
The title of the series “Private” means “Private” in the language of an imaginary totalitarian state and this work brings together this collection of illusions.
The work 21 Tyrants from the series Private by Aalam is part of the exhibition Une histoire d’images – donation Antoine de Galbert shown until July 7 at the MAC in Lyon.
Aalam: Privaatt
Editions Imgène (with the support of the Antoine de Galbert Foundation)
Text: Maylis de Kerangal
Bilingual French/English edition
24 x 30 cm
80 pages
ISBN: 9782900840177
https://fondationantoinedegalbert.org/produit/aalam-privaatt/
Antoine de Galbert Foundation
52 rue de Charenton
75012 Paris – France
www.fondationantoinedegalbert.org
