Bani Abidi

One of Pakistan’s most notable contemporary artists, Bani Abidi creates videos and multimedia works that interweave autobiographical fiction with sociopolitical commentary and satire. Her practice explores the sobering realities of the political conditions, bureaucracy, and urban infrastructure in Asia, exposing the absurdities emerging from the dysfunctionalities of everyday life. The Artist Who is the first monograph to look at the work of this Berlin-based Pakistani artist. Envisioned as an artist project, the publication explores notions of humor, playfulness and experimentation by engaging with forms of writing, design, printing, and assembly. Containing a documentation of artworks created over two decades as well as archival material and a rich selection of texts, it represents the wide range of relationships Abidi has fostered during this period.

BANI ABIDI (*1971, Karachi) studied visual art in Lahore and Chicago. Encompassing video, photography and performance, Abidi’s practice draws on everyday as well as historical events to explore issues of nationalism and state power. Solo shows have taken place at Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and Gropius Bau, Berlin, amongst others; group shows include the 8th Berlin Biennial, Guggenheim Museum, New York, documenta 13, Kassel. Abidi lives and works between Berlin and Karachi.