Houria Niati

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Houria Niati
Born1948 (age 76–77)
Khemis Miliana, French Algeria
Known forInstallation art
Website www.hourianiati.com

Houria Niati (born 1948) is an Algerian contemporary artist living in London. [1] [2] Niati specializes in mixed media installations that criticize Western representations and objectification of north African and Middle Eastern women. [3] Her installations notably have live performances most commonly traditional Algerian music such as Raï, as a key visual representation of Niati's homeland and culture. [1] Salah M. Hassan further details her performances, "She uses synthesizers, sound recordings, and special light effects to create a theatrical atmosphere and a vibrant magical environment of sound, body movement, and color." [4] The installations and exhibitions join together paintings, sculptures, drawings, photos, soundtracks, and performances. [1]

Contents

Early life and career

Niati grew up in French-occupied Algeria, where over one million Algerians were killed for resisting occupation. [1] When Niati was twelve years old, she demonstrated against French colonialism with her anti-colonial graffiti, which landed her in jail. [1] Niati's experiences with the French occupation and eventual revolution of her people greatly influenced her art later in life. [1]

Niati moved to London in the late 1970s, where she observed Western art that depicted Algerian people, especially women, in a fictionalized and exotic way. [1] This influenced her own depictions of post-colonial cultures, nations, and people. [1] She attended Camden Arts Centre and Croydon College of Art, [5] and later went on to get an MA in Fine Arts at Middlesex University. [6]

Selected exhibitions

Publications

Niati, Houria (1999). "Diverse Bodies of Experiences". In Lloyd, Fran (ed). Contemporary Arab Women's Art: Dialogues of the Present. WAL Women's Art Library. ISBN   9781902770000.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Fairchild Ruggles, D. (2006). Women, Patronage, and Self-Representation in Islamic Societies. Albany: SUNY Press. p. 243. ISBN   0791493075 . Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Hassan, Salah M (1997). Gendered Visions: The Art of Contemporary Africana Women Artists. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, Inc. p. 9.
  3. ↑ De Weever, Jacqueline (Spring 2004). "Review: Women, Patronage, and Self-Representation in Islamic Societies by D. FAIRCHILD RUGGLES". Arthuriana. 14 (1): 114–116. doi:10.1353/art.2004.0029. JSTOR   27870591. S2CID   201754269.
  4. ↑ Hassan, Salah M. (1997). Gendered Visions. Africa World Press, Inc. p. 103. ISBN   0-86543-619-3.
  5. ↑ Hassan, Salah M. (26 January 2013). "The Installations of Houria Niati". Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art. 3 (1): 50–55. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Houria Niati - MA Fine Arts". hourianiati.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Keen, Melanie (1996). Recordings : a select bibliography of contemporary African, Afro-Caribbean and Asian British art. Elizabeth Ward, Chelsea College of Art and Design, Institute of International Visual Arts. London: Institute of International Visual Arts and Chelsea College of Art and Design. ISBN   1-899846-06-9. OCLC   36076932.
  8. ↑ Highet, Juliet (16 September 2013). "Houria Niati: Identity Search". Asharq Al Awsat. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.


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