Ahmed Basiony, killed in Tahrir Square, represents Egypt at the Venice Biennale

 

Artnet reports that the Cairo-based artist and electronic musician Ahmed Basiony, who was killed by sniper fire in Tahrir Square on Jan. 28, 2011, will be representing Egypt at this year’s Venice Biennale. The exhibition will be curated by Aida Eltorie, former editor of Contemporary Practices Journal and founder of FindingProjects.org; the commissioner is the Cairo-based artist and teacher Shady El Noshokaty.

The selection is all the more interesting considering that the status of democratic reforms in Egypt remains uncertain.

According to Hyperallergic.com, the exhibition is featuring Basiony’s 30 Days of Running in the Space, a 2010 performance that charted his vital signs as he ran for one hour every day and projected them graphically on a screen. The work was originally performed in 2010 in the garden of the Cairo Opera House.

Also on view in the Egyptian pavilion: Basiony’s documentation of the Tahrir Square protests.

A multimedia pioneer responsible for introducing the first academic program in sound art experimentation to Egypt, Basiony was the subject of an elegiac essay by El Noshokaty inNafas art magazine in March.

According to El Noshokaty, in Basiony’s final entries on his Facebook page, Basiony told of being beaten by the riot police, and wrote, “If they want war, we want peace. I am just trying to regain some of my nation’s dignity.” And then, the next day, said, “It is necessary to be fully equipped while participating in the revolution. . . . Bring a camera with you and don’t be afraid or weak.”

Basiony, 32, leaves behind a wife and two children.

About the author

Rebecca Wilson
In May 2006, Rebecca Wilson brought her expertise from 14 years in book and art magazine publishing to the Saatchi Gallery, where she launched an online daily magazine for the gallery's expanding website. In 2007 she created New Sensations, a prize for art students which identifies and supports the most exciting emerging artists. The prize is run in the UK with Channel 4 and will be launch in North America in 2011. As well as working on Saatchi Online, she is Associate Director of the Saatchi Gallery in London. Prior to joining The Saatchi Gallery, Rebecca was editor of ArtReview, and before that deputy editor of Modern Painters.

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