iniva - Laylah Ali

the kiss and other warriors
17 January – 24 February 2007

Ali’s first UK solo show includes paintings and newly commissioned drawings. Playful while at the same time deeply disturbing, the cartoon-like imagery with their ambiguous narratives continues her exploration of the social dynamics of violence and cultural difference.

An intricate ink drawing of two figures with headresses who seem to be kissing

“In my new drawings, I aim to fuse recognisable types with question marks, fuse known narratives with things that are not as easily articulated. The inbuilt narratives within what is recognisable give the viewer a place to start. So, we might start with what looks like a kiss, but what kind of kiss is this? Who are these people?” Laylah Ali

Opening at inIVA on 17 January 2007, the kiss and other warriors is the first UK solo exhibition of internationally acclaimed artist Laylah Ali and will comprise of paintings and newly commissioned drawings. Playful while at the same time deeply disturbing, the cartoon-like imagery with their ambiguous narratives offer uncanny resonances to present-day conflicts and continues her exploration of the social dynamics of violence and cultural difference.

Born in 1968 in Buffalo, New York, Laylah Ali studied at the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program, the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, and received a MFA in painting from Washington University in St Louis, Missouri in 1994. Her exhibitions include solo exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; Contemporary Art Museum, St Louis; and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York among others. Her work was also exhibited at the Venice Biennale (2003) and the Whitney Biennial (2004). Ali lives and works in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

the kiss and other warriors exhibition is curated by Cylena Simonds and is part of inIVA’s Winter 06/07 season. Ali has produced a publication, Notes with Little Illustration, in conjunction with the exhibition and her work is also featured as part of an Alien Nation group show at the ICA from 17 November 2006 - 14 January 2007.

Listings information

Venue: inIVA, 6-8 Standard Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3BE Dates/Times: 17 Jan-24 Feb 2007, Wed – Sat (12-6pm), Private View 16 Jan (6-8pm) Tube: Old St and Liverpool St. Admission free. Wheelchair access Information: +44 (0)20 7729 9616, www.iniva.org, institute@iniva.org

Supported by

Arts Council England & Esmée Fairbairn

Editors' notes

Alien Nation: Open from 17 Nov 2006-14 Jan 2007, Alien Nation is a group show co-produced by the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) and the Institute of International Visual Arts (inIVA) that explores the complex relationship between science fiction, race and contemporary art. Curated by John Gill, Jens Hoffmann and Gilane Tawadros the exhibition presents the work of twelve contemporary international artists: Laylah Ali, Hamad Butt, Ellen Gallagher & Edgar Cleijne, David Huffman, Hew Locke, Marepe, Henna Nadeem, Kori Newkirk, Yinka Shonibare MBE, Eric Wesley and Mario Ybarra Jr; all of whom explore themes of ‘otherness’ and ‘difference’ through the language and iconography of sci-fi. The witty and provocative artworks on display encompass film, sculpture, photography, multi-media installations - even 3-D painting - and expose a disturbing contemporary narrative in which the media perpetuate a terror of ‘invasion’ from immigrants, asylum seekers (indeed any racial, cultural or ethnic ‘other’) and position such ‘outsiders’ as the dominant threat to both family and national stability. Mingling fact and fiction, science and art, Alien Nation will also show a collection of original sci-fi film posters from the 1950’s to present day, courtesy of The Reel Poster Gallery, as well as extracts from contemporary and archive science fiction films. The exhibition will be accompanied by a significant publication with contributions from the curators and David Alan Mellor.

inIVA creates exhibitions, publications, multimedia, education and research projects designed to bring the work of artists from culturally-diverse backgrounds to the attention of the widest possible public. (ww.iniva.org) In 2007 Rivington Place, inIVA and Autograph ABP’s new contemporary visual arts space will open in the heart of East London. Supported by the Arts Council England Lottery Capital 2 Programme, this will be the UK’s first permanent home for culturally diverse visual arts and photography. Barclays Bank plc is the Rivington Place founding corporate partner, contributing £1million towards the development. This innovative partnership reflects Barclays history of supporting positive social change and making a real and lasting difference to the diverse communities in which it operates. (www.rivingtonplace.org)