Shuruq Harb: A Firm Handshake

About

Artist in residence Shuruq Harb asks: when do we start making an artwork? Shuruq Harb's A Book of Signatures is a collection of 250 signatures from individuals named Mohammad living in Ramallah, Palestine. Drawing on their social network, each Mohammad introduced the artist to another Mohammad. The process of collecting signatures for Shuruq became an alternative way of navigating her hometown, providing a chance for improbable encounters and engaging new conversations. Tracing back to the inspirational ignition of A Book of Signatures, Shuruq Harb revisits historical events, re-examines artistic references, instigates a dialogue with other artists and ultimately finds herself making new works. Shuruq Harb works with photography, video and text. Her artistic practice currently focuses on documenting and collecting the ephemeral as a means of navigating city landscapes. Shuruq also works towards shifting ideas about context and reference in relation to art history. She is the co-founder of ArtTerritories an online platform dedicated to artists' interviews in the Middle East, which launches in September 2010. A Book of Signatures was exhibited at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham earlier this year (2010). Free event, limited seats available. Please email rsvp@delfinafoundation.com