Theater of False Ruins: Interview with Abbas Akhavan
By Naz Cuguoğlu
Portrait of ABBAS AKHAVAN. Photo by Steve Farmer. Courtesy the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax.
Abbas Akhavan, whose practice spans drawing, video, sculpture, performance and site-specific installations, is fascinated by the places in which he works. He pays close attention to the local architecture, economy, and inhabitants, immersing himself in the area while maintaining a respectful distance, like a good neighbor. He is particularly interested in the domestic sphere—in his words, “a forked space between hospitality and hostility”—and the cultivated plots just outside the home (the garden, the backyard).
