Zoulikha Bouabdellah

With a subversive sense of humor, Bouabdellah explores notions of globalization, cultural belonging, otherness, and oppression. In Les Chéris (The darlings), she covers an entire wall with Arabic words for love, scribbled in red ink. Each sheet takes on its own figurative identity, illustrating language’s ability to capture the diverse experiences of this universal emotion. Across the room, Couteaux (Knives) presents six long cleavers with vegetal motifs as blades. A blend of knife and flower – displayed as if floating on the table – the knives contain the inherent duality of delicate ornament and destructive tool.

Zoulikha Bouabdellah was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1977. She lives and works in Paris and Casablanca. She studied at the École nationale supérieure d’arts de Paris-Cergy. She has exhibited in institutions worldwide such as The Menil Collection (Houston, Texas), the Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (New York), and the Hayward Gallery (London).