Gargour

This sculptural composition has steel rods wrapped in multi-hued fabrics redolent of traditional fishing nets in the UAE. A continuation of Al-Banna’s ongoing research into the Emirati heritage, he looks at how these structures bait the fish, linking them to the trappings of the contemporary condition. He views the hallow shape as that resembling a spiritual void to which many fall victims. The meticulous gestures of bending, morphing, tying, weaving and knotting look at what drifts into the vacuum vis-à-vis what resists the overwhelming torrent. Hollow space in traditional fishing trap has inspired me to create a series of Gargour artwork