With BENZENE FLOAT, Monira Al Qadiri transforms the atrium of the Moderne Galerie into a dazzling landscape of floating molecules. Four oversized, inflatable sculptures draw on the spatial models of petrochemical compounds – substances such as benzene or naphthalene, which are derived from crude oil and natural gas and shape our everyday lives in many different ways. This hidden world is brought to light by the monumental, shimmering, colourful forms. Their playful lightness stands in deliberate contrast to the enormous significance of petrochemical substances: whilst they enable modern comforts and technological progress, they are at the same time inextricably linked to resource consumption and environmental destruction. Straddling the line between fascination and unease, BENZENE FLOAT offers a fresh perspective on the materials that shape our present – and invites us to reflect on their impact on our future.
Location:
Moderne Galerie
Bismarckstraße 11-15
66111 Saarbrücken
