Language instruction may not seem like a typical offering at a public art gallery. But when it is part of the art, it makes for an intriguing and timely type of community engagement.
Hiba Abdallah’s awareness raising installation Th’an is on now at the Art Gallery of Guelph. At the heart of it is the Arabic language, and it particularly revolves around an examination of how Arabic culture is marginalized, and what can be done to make it less so.
For three days this week, a Syrian refugee living in Lebanon, named Mona, has been Skyped into the gallery, teaching basic Arabic language conservation to a small number of people.
Th’an is a most interesting Arabic word, having the dual meaning of the apparent opposites of suspicion and certainty, Abdallah explained.
To call the exhibition an installation is not entirely accurate. It is more active than passive - of kind of social engagement ignitor, with a fictional public relations firm, The Arabic Consultants, dedicated to embedding the Arablic language in public and private spaces.
Public participation is a crucial component of Abdallah’s “art as social practice” work. And much of the social engagement has taken place outside the gallery.
A few people took part in the Arabic language lesson Wednesday, learning how to differentiate gender in certain Arabic words, what the word for certain professions are, and other aspects of the language.
“I think it was important that the Arabic language wasn’t just seen in the exhibition, but also spoken and learnt,” said Abdallah, who is an Arabic speaker. “There are many layers to the exhibition, where people wear the t-shirts, they show the ‘Welcome to Guelph’ signs on their property, and they see the language. But now there is this other layer where they get to learn the language and speak it.”
Arabic, Abdallah said, has certain similarities to Spanish and Italian, and once some basic rules are understood, the language becomes relatively easy to learn.
And learning the language is timely during a time in which more Arabic speaking newcomers are arriving in our community, and in the broader context of growing public awareness of Arabic culture in the world. Much of that awareness is wrapped in suspicion.
“With all the Syrian refugees now that are in Guelph, a lot of the participants wanted a way to be able to greet them,” Abdallah said. “A lot of the participants are here for that reason.”
For the artist, breaking the stigma and fear of the language is what compelled her to conceive of the exhibition and its many layers.
“People see it and they are scared of it, people hear it and they are scared of it,” she said. “For me, this exhibition was really about addressing those issues, in fun and playful ways.”
Shauna McCabe, Art Gallery of Guelph executive director, said Th’an is about community engagement, with the goal of introducing Arabic culture to the Guelph landscape. Arabic language instruction, McCabe said, is a natural extension of the artist’s overall theme and intent.
Abdallah and the gallery are working with the organization Na Takallam, an international group that connects Syrian refugees in communities around the world with local residents who want to learn Arabic.
“That’s a very unique organization for us to work with, and we are thrilled to be working with them on this project,” McCabe said.
McCabe added that Abdallah has been working with the Guelph community for the past two years on the ‘Welcome to Guelph’ project, working with local residents, businesses and organizations to distribute welcome signs in Arabic.
The artist’s work is both helping to bring attention to Arabic culture in our community, and also to the absence of awareness about that culture. The project aims to make Guelph more welcoming.
Th’an continues until Aug. 27 at the gallery. Arabic language instruction continues Thursday, beginning at noon.
