NEW EXHIBITION

BY AZZA EL SIDDIQUE,

"ECHOES TO OMEGA"

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments are available.

About "Echoes to Omega"

Azza El Siddique’s inspiration for this exhibition was spurred when she came across the story of an archeological anomaly. In 1913, a team of archaeologists unearthed an extraordinary figure from the sands of present-day Sudan. They found the statue of Lady Sennuwy, an Egyptian noblewoman, which was carved nearly 4,000 years ago from hard, gray granodiorite. The sculpture had emerged from the ancient city of Kerma, one of Nubia’s largest archaeological sites. This 14-foot tall, 2,300-pound statue was originally carved in Egypt, likely residing in a tomb chapel, and had remarkably been transported over 1,000 kilometers south almost 300 years after its creation. 

 El Siddique’s installation finds its inspiration in this historical migration. Reflecting on her own journey as an immigrant and the experiences of other immigrant women, she became fascinated by Lady Sennuwy’s mysterious relocation. Discovering that the statue had been digitally scanned and its 3D file available as open source, El Siddique meticulously recreated it using robotic milling techniques. In collaboration with Manchester Craftsman’s Guild, El Siddique created ceramic reproductions, which are placed throughout the installation amidst an imposing steel structure. The inclusion of water, scent, and video elements further enhances the experience, creating a contemplative space where the visible and invisible, the enduring and the ephemeral, coexist. Through this installation, El Siddique invites us to explore the complexities of displacement, memory, and the passage of time. 

About Azza El Siddique:

Azza El Siddique is known for her dynamic and evocative artwork that often intersects various mediums and themes of mortality, science, mythology, and spirituality. Inspired by her research into ancient Egyptian and Nubian death traditions, El Siddique grapples with protean matters: the inevitable collapse of everything, what happens after life, and how we may find comfort in the face of mortality. El Siddique, born in Khartoum, Sudan, currently lives and works in New Haven, CT. She received an MFA from Yale University School of Art in 2019.

Azza El Siddique (b. Khartoum, Sudan) received an MFA from Yale University School of Art in 2019 and a BFA from Ontario College of Art and Design University in 2014. She has participated in residencies at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Maine, Amant Foundation, NY, John Michael Kohler Arts/Industry Residency, Wisconsin and Harbourfront Center, Ontario. Her work has been featured in The New Yorker, Artforum, Artpapers, CanadianArt, and Border Crossings. Past exhibitions include In the place of annihilation, MIT List Center, Cambridge MA, Dampen the flame; Extinguish the fire, Helena Anrather, NY, that which trembles wavers, Bradley Ertaskiran, Montreal, Material Tells, Oakville Galleries, Ontario, RAW, The Gardiner Museum, Toronto, and GTA 2021, The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto.

About Mattress Factory's International Open Call

El Siddique was selected for exhibition by a panel of Mattress Factory Alumni artists through International Open Call. Artists who have worked in residency with Mattress Factory offer perspective unlike any other, one that is deeply familiar with the museum, engaged in many aspects of the contemporary art field, and invested in pushing our exhibitions in new directions. The artist alumni panelists for the 2022 International Open Call were Vanessa German, Sohrab Kashani, Christopher Meerdo and Sarah Oppenheimer.