Through her rich storytelling and subversive playfulness, Monira Al Qadiri’s artwork imagines the possibilities that lie beyond the oil industry. She is fascinated by shifting the forces of power – often animating the invisible narratives and strange worlds hidden within our destructive relationship to natural resources and other beings. Here are three important things you should know about Monira Al Qadiri:

1. Born in 1983, Monira Al Qadiri was raised in Kuwait and later studied in Japan. She currently lives and works in Berlin. Her artistic practice spans sculpture, installation, video and performance. Al Qadiri’s early life was profoundly shaped by the devastating impact of the Gulf War, which she experienced as a child.  

2. Oil plays a central role in Monira Al Qadiri's art. Through sculptures that mimic the seductive, iridescent surface of oil, Al Qadiri examines how ‘petroculture’ - the culture shaped by a dependance on the oil industry - has had a dominant influence on our contemporary life in ways almost beyond our imagination. Exploring the shift in Kuwait’s economy from traditional pearl diving to oil extraction, a change that brought immense wealth alongside dramatic social and ecological consequences, her work invites a reflection on the allure and tragedy of this legacy.  

3. Al Qadiri draws inspiration from her heritage, ancient myths and speculative fiction to envision alternate realities in both the past and future. Her work in deeply rooted in literary traditions of the Middle East and she is influenced by the hyper-visual culture of Japan. She offers compelling reflections on the fragility of cultural memory and illustrates the beauty rooted in our collective desire for transformation.  

Monira Al Qadiri is an internationally recognised artist. Her artworks have been exhibited at prominent institutions worldwide. You can experience her first solo exhibition in Denmark at ARKEN from November 13, 2025 – April 6, 2026. Find out more about the exhibition here.

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^{Gastromancer, Installation view of Monira Al Qadiri Haunted Water 2023. Foto:Sun Shi. Courtesy UCCA Center for Contemporary Art}

References
Monira Al Qadiri, "Info," accessed 12/17/2024
Perrotin, "Monira Al Qadiri," accessed 12/17/2024
Roorda, Sietske, "Pearly Oil: Monira Al Qadiri’s Art on ‘Petro-Culture,’" published 9/14/2023, accessed 12/17/2024