Hassan Sharif, Hair and Milk Bottle, 1984. Collage, photographs, ink and pencil on mounting board, 73.5 x 56 cm.

Courtesy Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde and the artist.

Hair and Milk Bottle

1984

Collage, photographs, ink and pencil on mounting board

In this work, Sharif pulls pubic hairs out of his trousers and attempts to throw them into a milk bottle placed on the floor at a distance. The performance ends when the artist is successful in landing one hair inside the bottle. On completion, the bottle is sealed and the work is finished.

Hair and Milk Bottle is an example of Sharif's early performance works that he began developing while at Byam Shaw School of Art in London. During this period, Sharif would perform mundane and often meaningless tasks, which were carefully documented through photography. Building up a series of works using the body, Sharif enacted small, gestural performance works both in Dubai and London.

Hassan Sharif (b. 1951, Dubai, lives and works Dubai). Hassan Sharif has made a vital contribution to conceptual art and experimental practice in the Middle East through 40 years of performances, installations, drawing, painting, and assemblage.

Sharif has exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions, recently including All the World's Futures, UAE National Pavilion, La Biennale di Venezia, 56th International Art Exhibition, Venice, Italy (2015); Here and Elsewhere, New Museum, New York, USA (2014).