I’d search forever, I want to remember

The exhibition features a wave machine that contains water from the English Channel brought in as witness, a three-channel film that explores the psyche of a disused detention centre in Dover and a photographic series that engages with the shoreline as a site of poetic multiplicity.

I’d search forever, I want to remember was presented on June 24th 2023 at The Citadel, Dover and July 20th – 22nd at Frieze’s No.9 Cork Street, London.

I’d search forever, I want to remember is the result of a gathering of artists thinking and organising together: Manon Schwich, Sami El-Enany, Angus Frost, Parker Heyl, Patricia Doors, Lorella Bianco and Fadi Giha, joined Al-Mashouk in creating this work.

In partnership with Counterpoints Arts, Dover Arts Development, Shubbak Festival and Frieze’s No.9 Cork Street. With support from Arts Council England Project Grants.

Dover: set in a fortress dating back to the 18th century on the cliffs of the Wester Heights of Dover, the day- long programme featured an exhibition, guided tours with the creative team, ceramics and craft workshops centering memory and place, two dance performances by Fadi Giha and food and drinks. The programme began at 11am and culminated at sunset with a participatory performance inviting the audience to hold space together with the artist(s) for a moment of collective remembrance.

London: the artworks were exhibited at Frieze’s No.9 Cork Street for three days, alongside images taken in Dover and artefacts created during workshops there. Fadi Giha performed on opening night, July 20th.

I’d search forever, I want to remember is the culmination of a body of work that began in 2018 with a 10.5 hour durational performance by Al-Mashouk titled Can you die if you don’t exist? where she read the names of 34,361 refugees who died on their way to Europe off The List (compiled and published by UNITED for Intercultural Action – campaign ‘Fortress Europe No More Deaths’). The performance was for Deeplab and commissioned by Mediale. The next day she re-visited the wall she leaned on, the ground she stood on and understood that this place would always remember.

Tamara Al-Mashouk is a visual artist who incorporates strategies of hosting, art making and live performance across her multi-disciplinary projects. These days, she can’t stop thinking about where memory is stored, about water and about how to create spaces of collective healing. She explores her ideas through multi-channel video, performance and architectural installation.

View I’d search forever – Portfolio (pdf)