Runa Islam
Encyclopedia
Runa Islam is a Bangladesh
born artist based in London
, and was a nominee for the 2008 Turner Prize
. Islam is principally known for her film works.
, Bangladesh
Runa Islam moved to London aged three. She attended the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam
from 1997 - 1998. In 1999, Islam exhibited at EASTinternational
which was selected by Peter Doig
and Roy Arden
. She completed an M.Phil
at the Royal College of Art
, London in 2004. In 2005, she participated in the Venice Biennale
. Later in 2008, Islam was nominated for the 2008 Turner Prize
.
.
Islam's 2006 16mm film installation Conditional Probability, was the result of a residency at North Westminster Community School, in the final year before its closure. It was first exhibited at the Serpentine Gallery
and "imbues even the most mundane dusty corner with a little visual magic." The other artists included in the project to document the life of the school before it closed were Christian Boltanski
, Faisal Abdu'allah
and the architect Yona Friedman
.
In 2010, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
(MCA), presented Runa Islam's first solo exhibition in Australia. Works included Magical Consciousness (2010), co-commissioned by the MCA and the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
(MACM)
and Scale (1/16 Inch = 1 Foot) featuring the now demolished Trinity Square (Gateshead) multi-storey car park
.
Islam says "I feel I've got a lot to say with film. The camera can go to impossible places. It can re-articulate time. Films from other epochs allow you to go back in time. But so much of contemporary life is also envisioned through film and TV. We remember people we've never met because we've seen them on a screen."
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
born artist based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was a nominee for the 2008 Turner Prize
Turner Prize
The Turner Prize, named after the painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist under the age of 50. Awarding the prize is organised by the Tate gallery and staged at Tate Britain. Since its beginnings in 1984 it has become the United Kingdom's most publicised...
. Islam is principally known for her film works.
Background
Born in DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
Runa Islam moved to London aged three. She attended the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
from 1997 - 1998. In 1999, Islam exhibited at EASTinternational
EASTinternational
EASTinternational is an open submission exhibition that was launched in 1991 and takes place at the Norwich University College of the Arts. Applications from over 1,000 contemporary artists are received each year with approximately 25-30 artists selected to exhibit...
which was selected by Peter Doig
Peter Doig
Peter Doig is a contemporary artist born in Scotland. In 2007, a painting of Doig's, entitled White Canoe, sold at Sotheby's for $11.3 million, then an auction record for a living European artist.-Early life:...
and Roy Arden
Roy Arden
Roy Arden is a Vancouver artist.Arden has had solo exhibitions at the Ikon Gallery, Galerie Tanit and Vancouver Art Gallery. Other exhibitions at the Kunstmuseum Basel, and the Museum of Modern Art, Antwerp . His work is included in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art - was featured in...
. She completed an M.Phil
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
, London in 2004. In 2005, she participated in the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
. Later in 2008, Islam was nominated for the 2008 Turner Prize
2008 Turner Prize
The four nominees for the Tate gallery's 2008 Turner Prize were Runa Islam, Mark Leckey, Goshka Macuga and Cathy Wilkes. The chairman of the jury was Tate Britain director, Stephen Deuchar. The award went to Mark Leckey on 1 December....
.
Work
She was inspired by European auteurs such as Jean-Luc GodardJean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
.
Islam's 2006 16mm film installation Conditional Probability, was the result of a residency at North Westminster Community School, in the final year before its closure. It was first exhibited at the Serpentine Gallery
Serpentine Gallery
The Serpentine Gallery is an art gallery in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, central London. It focuses on modern and contemporary art. The exhibitions, architecture, education and public programmes attract approximately 750,000 visitors a year...
and "imbues even the most mundane dusty corner with a little visual magic." The other artists included in the project to document the life of the school before it closed were Christian Boltanski
Christian Boltanski
Christian Boltanski is French sculptor, photographer, painter and film maker.-Life and work:Having no formal art education, he began painting in 1958. Nevertheless, he first came to public attention in 1960 with few short films and publication of several notebooks...
, Faisal Abdu'allah
Faisal Abdu'allah
Faisal Abdu'allah is a British artist and barber. His work includes photography, screen print and installations.-Life and work:...
and the architect Yona Friedman
Yona Friedman
Yona Friedman is a Hungarian-born French architect, urban planner and designer. He became famous in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in the so-called age of megastructures.-Early years:...
.
In 2010, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Australia is an Australian museum solely dedicated to exhibiting, interpreting and collecting contemporary art, both from across Australia and around the world...
(MCA), presented Runa Islam's first solo exhibition in Australia. Works included Magical Consciousness (2010), co-commissioned by the MCA and the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal is a contemporary art museum in the Place des Arts complex, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The collection includes over 7,000 works of art by more than 1,500 artists , covering contemporary art in Quebec in particular and Canada in general, as well as...
(MACM)
and Scale (1/16 Inch = 1 Foot) featuring the now demolished Trinity Square (Gateshead) multi-storey car park
Multi-storey car park
A multi-storey car-park is a building designed specifically to be for car parking and where there are a number of floors or levels on which parking takes place...
.
Islam says "I feel I've got a lot to say with film. The camera can go to impossible places. It can re-articulate time. Films from other epochs allow you to go back in time. But so much of contemporary life is also envisioned through film and TV. We remember people we've never met because we've seen them on a screen."
External links
- Turner Prize 2008 on Tate web site
- Runa Islam: Private View
- A review of Conditional Probability followed by a brief interview about the work in Time Out magazine.
- Life in Film
- Islam chooses films and film moments that have inspired her for Frieze.
- SHUGOARTS
- A page with a number of photographs of Islam's work ans stills from her films.
- Telegraph slideshow
Interviews
- Runa Islam Interview; Göteborg International biennial 2005
- Interview with particular regard to the works:
- Time Lines
- First Day of Spring
- Interview with particular regard to the works:
- Q&A on the White Cube website
- Islam talks extensively about her film work.
- Answers to Questions: Runa Islam in conversation with Tine Fischer
Reviews
- Runa Islam, White Cube, London
- Review of exhibition from The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
- Review of exhibition from The Independent
- Independent review
- Review of Islam's work Conditional Probability.
- Frieze review
- Review of Empty the pond to get to the fish from Frieze
- Frieze review - Camden Arts Centre
- Review of exhibition featuring the works:
- How Far To Faro
- The First Day of Spring
- Review of exhibition featuring the works: