Paper Trampoline, 2018
three pastels on Japanese paper, stretched on metal ring; diameters: 370 cm, 240 cm, 180 cm
Paper Trampoline is a collaborative work between the Algerian-born French artist Nasr-eddine Bennacer and the master printmaker Krishna Reddy. Drawing inspiration from the imagery of the circus and the cosmic lines that characterise Reddy’s prints, Bennacer has created three microcosms that play with notions of territorial determination and of value judgements based on geo-economics. Inspired by Reddy’s etchings of clowns, Bennacer also draws from this tradition, employing trampolines, clowns, and animal-acts to expose the artifice behind geographic and cultural categorisations. The three microcosms unveil the genesis of the demarcation of geographical boundaries and territorial divisions. The image of Pangea, the symbol of primal unity, reminds us of an original sense of togetherness. This harmony is disrupted by an ambush of tigers fighting over North Africa — alluding to men’s ineluctable desire for domination. Finally, an image of the Gulf States resting on the structure of an oil pump reveals the artificial foundations upon which cultural ideals are constructed. The man-made landmarks that stand as the emblems of those states — the silhouettes of Mecca, a mosque, the iconic sail-shaped luxury hotel in Dubai — are indicative of the economic power at the base of cultural ideology.
Bennacer works on the evolution of links between civilisations. At all levels, from the global to the personal, interactions and relationships between cultures and societies are tinted with trans-national ambiguities. Scrutinising the exploitation of regional conflict for political aims on behalf of dominant nations, Bennacer argues that power and influence can be undercut by complex networks of political and economic forces. Mass psychology is one tool that can influence rationality by using emotion to thwart the realisation of specific opposition ideologies. Working with drawing, painting, and installation, Bennacer reflects on the increasing degree of manipulation seen in our complex societal situations, which are too often imbued with violence.
Artist’s website: www.nbennacer.fr