Akram Zaatari, Conversation with an Imagined Israeli Filmmaker Named Avi Mograbi
In this book, Akram Zaatari attempts to write his conversation with an imagined Israeli filmmaker who he named Avi Mograbi. He pursues his long-term work about objects and personal documents linked to the history of Israel wars against Lebanon, through researching letters, photographs, personal stories by former Lebanese prisoners in Israel, which the artist then presents in his videos, conferences and photographies. The artist notably questions the encounter between a subjective and personal history and violent historical events. Extract “ Maybe, you should leave Israel, Avi. Imagine yourself driving across the border into Lebanon. Choose the route and the gate you want to take. I don’t care. Imagine a beautiful day when you drive your car and film your trip to Lebanon, leaving your gun behind, leaving all your ambitions behind. Film things as if you are seeing them for the last time, and film it with the love of the things that we share, with the love of the films that we share. Imagine. ” French and english versions: 56 pages, 170 x 220 mm, coulor, 2011. With inserts of Arabic and Hebrew versions. Co-published with BlackJack éditions, Sternberg Press, Les Laboratoires d’Aubervilliers. With support from the Kadist Art Foundation.