Based between London and Riyadh, Malak’s practice revolves around themes of boundary-breaking, identity, [pop]ular culture/music, and exploration through focusing on unconventional methods of curating and exhibiting. Malak Alhajri is a curator, musician and a visualist.
Malak Alhajri
In the liminal realm where art converges with the pulse of existence, Malak embarks on a quest to dismantle boundaries and unravel discussions of identity. With an interest for the zeitgeist of [pop]ular culture, music, and the raw vitality of liveness, her curatorial vision emerges from diverse voices and limitless expressions.
Through immersive encounters, she attempts to navigate the intricate terrain of contemporary art, defying convention and igniting a dialogue that transcends the confines of proposed tradition. In this ever-evolving landscape, the curator becomes a conductor, forging connections that challenge, inspire, and resonate deeply within the beholders. With a mission to reach, disrupt, and provoke; Malak's practice submerges the viewer in an experiential odyssey, and leave an indelible mark through the boundless realms of space and art.
O.T.O
OTO (One Time Only) was a live exhibition held at FOLD London, on 11 May 2023, which moved outside of the typical white cube to a nightclub. OTO, taking place away from the exhibitionary and on the late-night dance floor, activating the audience in that space.This curatorial intervention responded to our interest in the themes of music, liveness and bodies within the moving image and asked what the intersection of these topics could look and feel like. At the same time, we aimed to review the status of the music video and its place within the field of moving image.
The night consisted of three distinct sets featuring new work by artists Tarzan Kingofthejungle, Anna Clegg, Ahaad Alamoudi and Adam Farah-Saad, with DJ sets by HabibTati and Hellikisto. The sets were punctuated by screenings of David Hall’s series of works, ‘TV Interruptions ‘93’. Further information can be found on the On the Night page.
Further elements of the project consisted of creative curatorial writings, presented on this website as a series of rushes, inspired by the raw tapes which are produced during a day of shooting. These texts explore the connection between music videos and wider culture with greater specificity, responding to individual geographical and personal contexts or selected music videos. The texts are presented alongside a foreword by Lewis G. Burton.
The project also included digital commissions produced for the LUX instagram account by artists Hugo Hutchins and Maria Mahfooz.
In Collaboration with:
Ambre Panhard, Anqi Zhang, Elizabeth Langton, Guanchun Chen, Nikki Nita Ramírez, Sukii Lu, and Siavash Minoukadeh.
