N A S S E R   A  L S  A  L  E  M




             
             City Nomads 
                   series

Traditional tent fabric، Scaffold
Mixed media and print
8  X 5 X 2 M
ATHR, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
Insert Range Here
2015
Nasser Al-Salem’s work City Nomads is a movingly nostalgic piece that is a drastic departure from the artist’s previous calligraphic work. The subject, one that is close to his heart, is of the nomadic traditions that are forcibly disappearing by the ever expanding cities and fast-paced modernization.  The work comprises four hanging traditional tent flaps that made-up the entrance.  Each one is marked with an indication of the bureaucratic stage which the tent has reached in order to be recognized as an official abode by the authorities.

Tent-making was in fact the artist’s family’s main trade for several generations.  The artist has many fond memories of growing up in their Mecca shop, which was eventually closed down as plastic constructions replaced tents as shelters for Hajj pilgrims.  
Nomads, by definition, leave no trace to mark their presence when they move to another location. This means that they actually have no tangible heritage.  If their way of life disappears, there will be nothing but their oral traditions to prove they ever existed.



Nasser Al Salem_City Nomads_2011 - 2015 Tent texture_Installation_Insert Range Here_ATHR gallery jeddah, 2015_Courtesy of the artist and athr gallery





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