ELISABETH SMOLARZ

INSHA'ALLAH

2011, One-Channel Video (5:30)

 

INSHA'ALLAH (God willing) explores the fast track urbanization process in Doha caused by the wealth produced by Qatar’s oil and gas exports. The effort to achieve a global urban identity results in a "copy and paste" pattern of Western architecture, which is being created for a population that hasn't arrived yet.

Filmed during a sand storm on a Saturday the video shows empty streets and construction sites, between bright future and apocalypse.

The soundtrack consists of street sounds dominated by air condition noise mixed with the Islamic call to prayer.

 

Selected screenings and exhibitions:

Urbanes Leben, Württembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart, Germany

No worries—It's Going To Be OK, Oberwelt, Stuttgart, Germany