Flying Machine

Umetnik

Ali Cherri

Rođen/a u Beirut, Lebanon

The Weaver of Memory and Motion

In the contemporary art landscape, few voices resonate with the profound sensitivity to heritage and transformation found in the work of Ali Cherri. Born in Beirut in 1976, Cherri’s artistic identity is inextricably linked to the complex, layered histories of Lebanon and the broader Middle Eastern landscape. His practice, which seamlessly weaves together the tactile presence of sculpture with the ephemeral nature of film, serves as a meticulous documentation of cultural memory. Moving from his formative years in Beirut to pursuing advanced studies in Amsterdam and Paris, Cherri has developed a global perspective that remains deeply rooted in the soil of his homeland. His work does not merely observe the passage of time; it seeks to capture the very essence of metamorphosis, exploring how landscapes, architectures, and identities shift under the pressures of globalization and conflict.

Cherri’s artistic evolution is marked by a transition from exploring urban narratives and architectural spaces to investigating much larger, more symbolic themes. His sculptural practice, in particular, is renowned for its ambitious scale and its ability to embody complex philosophical ideas through physical form. A definitive example of this is his 2017 masterpiece, Flying Machine. This monumental wooden sculpture, designed with the intricate anatomy of a dragonfly, acts as a profound tribute to the pioneers of aviation—from the scientific visions of Abbas Ibn Firnas and Leonardo da Vinci to the historic breakthroughs of the Wright Brothers. By utilizing wood, a material deeply embedded in Lebanese tradition, Cherri creates a tension between the organic, ancient textures of the earth and the soaring, technological aspirations of the human spirit. The piece functions as more than an object; it is a tangible manifestation of his belief in confronting challenges through adaptation and flight.

Cinematic Landscapes and Global Recognition

Beyond the physical weight of his sculptures, Cherri’s work as a filmmaker and video installation artist allows him to delve into the temporal dimensions of history. Using both found and original footage, he constructs multi-channel installations that act as portals to significant historical sites. His explorations have taken him from the grandeur of ʻIolani Palace in Hawaii—capturing the transformative legacy of the Hawaiian monarchy—to the archaeological depths of the Middle East. Through these cinematic endeavors, Cherri investigates how sites of power and memory are reshaped by time, creating a dialogue between the seen and the unseen, the historical and the contemporary. His films often function as meditations on the preservation of culture against the eroding forces of modernity.

The significance of Ali Cherri’s contribution to contemporary art is reflected in his extensive exhibition history at some of the world's most prestigious institutions. His work has graced the halls of the Guggenheim New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. His presence at major international gatherings, such as the Venice Biennale and the Berlinale Film Festival, underscores his role as a vital voice in the global art dialogue. Through these diverse platforms, Cherri continues to challenge his audience to look closer at the traces of the past, finding beauty in the wreckage of history and hope in the persistent human drive toward transformation.

To understand the breadth of his impact, one might consider the following milestones of his career:

Cultural Documentation: A lifelong commitment to recording the environmental and architectural shifts within Lebanon and the Middle East.

Interdisciplinary Mastery: The seamless integration of sculptural form, video installation, and mixed media to explore themes of archaeology and identity.

Global Artistic Presence: Recognition through major exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), MACBA in Spain, and the Sursock Museum in Beirut.

Symbolic Innovation: The use of monumental works like Flying Machine to bridge the gap between historical scientific legacy and contemporary ecological concerns.

Muzej

Idealna palata poštara Ševala

Izloženo u Lion, Francuska

San iskovan u kamenu: Vizija Ferdinanda Ševala

U srcu Liona, u Francuskoj, postoji građevina koja prkosi samim zakonima arhitektonske logike i služi kao duboko svedočanstvo nepokolebljivog ljudskog duha.

Idealna palata poštara Ševala

nije samo zgrada; to je jedinstven spomenik

art brut

umetnosti, rođen iz ruku čoveka bez formalnog obrazovanja, ali posedujućeg maštu koja ne poznaje granice. Ferdinand Ševal, skromni poštar, proveo je više od trideset godina pedantno prikupljajući kamenje duž svoje rute dostave, vođen jedinstvenom, transformativnom vizijom koja je počela 1879. godine. Ovo izvanredno dostignuće istrajnosti pretvorilo je obične šljunak i stene u fantastičan kameni pejzaž, kreirajući remek-delo koje stoji kao kamen temeljac istorije narodne umetnosti.

Prošetati kroz palatu znači zakoračiti u opipljiv grozničavi san. Arhitektura je smela, vrtložna fuzija stilova koja odbacuje krute granice klasičnog dizajna. Čovek bi mogao da se nađe kako luta ispod

gotičkih lukova

samo da bi se iznenada suočio sa zamršnim ukrasima

baroka

ili egzotičnim, ritmičnim šarama

hindu motiva

. Ova arhitektonska simfonija stvara osećaj neprestanog otkrivanja, gde svaki zakret u ćošku otkriva novi sloj složenosti. Samim zidovima pulsira život, ukrašen složenim tapiserijama rezbarija koje pokazuju izvanredno, intuitivno majstorstvo nad materijalom i formom, dok dokazuju da istinski umetnički sjaj često izbija iz najneočekivanijih i neproučenih izvora.

Istaknuti delovi kolekcije unutar ovog kamenog labirinta su ništa manje nego očaravajući. Palata služi kao ogromna skulpturalna galerija u kojoj kaleidoskop životinja, mitoloških figura i globalnih simbola izranja iz stene. Posetioci su često opčinjeni delikatnim, ali moćnim prisustvom dela kao što su

‘Ptica na izvoru života’

i jezivo lepa

‘Hobotnica’

. Ove skulpture spajaju elemente nadrealizma sa dubokom religioznom ikonografijom, stvarajući simbolički jezik koji deluje istovremeno drevno i avangardno. Svaka pedantno izrađena figura govori o Ševalovim duboko usadlelim uverenjima i njegovoj sposobnosti da hladnom kamenu podari osećaj disanja i duhovnu dubinu.

Pored svog fizičkog sjaja, Idealna palata zauzima jedinstveno mesto u globalnom umetničkom dijalogu. Bila je predmet značajnih izložbi koje su učvrstile njen status ikone kako za naučnike, tako i za ljubitelje outsider umetnosti. Za kolekcionare i enterijer dizajnere, palata predstavlja vrhunski izraz

samospoznaje

i odbacivanja konvencija. Ona služi kao moćan podsetnik da lepota ne zahteva porodično poreklo niti formalno obrazovanje; ona zahteva samo nepokolebljivu veru u sopstvenu viziju. Palata ostaje mesto hodočašća za one koji žele da budu inspirisani snagom ljudske kreativnosti koja obične stvari pretvara u monumentalne.