Ikon Ikon Jamal Penjweny

Digital C-Type Print Unframed Edition of 200 25 x 30 cm Accompanied by a signed certification

Untitled [Sitting Soldier] accompanied Jamal Penjweny's 2014 exhibition Saddam is Here.

Ikon presented the first solo exhibition of Jamal Penjweny, including photography and video works reflecting on life in Iraq today. His work has been the subject of international attention following its inclusion in Welcome to Iraq, the Iraqi pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale, curated by Ikon Director Jonathan Watkins.

Key to this exhibition is the photographic series Saddam is Here (2009-2010), consisting of twelve images of Iraqi people in familiar surrounding, each holding a life-size picture of Saddam Hussein's face in front of their own. Saddam's likeness becomes a mask obscuring any expression of emotion, any gaze or possibility or sure identification.