Defenders of the Homeland 25.02.2023

KLF’s B7L9 art station showcases important collective ‘Defenders of the Homeland’ featuring five visual artists (Adel Abidin, Dia Al-Azzawi, Hela Ammar, Noor Abuarafeh and Noor Abed) .

The exhibition takes inspiration from anthems – an inherited cultural form that identifies and brings together and defines a group of people, creating a whole from individual parts. The title of the exhibition is drawn from this inspiration, an English translation of the Tunisian national anthem title.

Through the works of these five artists, this frame expands to include related themes: memory, togetherness, place, collective aspirations, and power.

The exhibition consists of two interconnected parts. The first is comprised of works (primarily audiovisual projections) by the five artists listed above.

The second consists of an interactive installation entitled Anthem, a ‘stage’ in the middle of the gallery with musical instruments.

This installation will be activated through live performances which allow the performer a space to interpret the anthem in a manner of their choosing – whether in its current form, or what they would imagine it to be.

On February 25, 2023, as part of the exhibition activities, the art station will present two shows :

A dance performance by choreographer & performer Ilyes Triki and artist performer Hazem Chebbi : 3:30PM.

Mettani and Makoto Sakamoto worked together for five days as part of a creation residency at B7L9, and will present the result of their collaboration during a restitution concert. Their goal is to resonate their respective sound worlds, playing on their similarities and differences, to create a unique musical dialogue.

Mettani is a French-Tunisian composer who creates luminous and melancholic melodies, while Makoto Sakamoto is a Japanese artist whose soundscapes are dark and introspective. This meeting therefore promises to be a game of distorting mirrors, where the two artists will reflect and complement each other.

In addition, this concert will also be an opportunity for artists to share and pass on their know-how to young local artists. It is therefore a unique opportunity for music enthusiasts to meet talented artists and discover new musical perspectives – Dhouha Abdelghani

The concert will take place on Saturday, February 25 at 7 p.m. at Station d’art B7L9.