Ants Alert: Art From Rijksmuseum Now In Dubai.

by Sophie She

Ants Alert: Art From Rijksmuseum Now In Dubai. And You Can Buy It

10 Oct 2024

Rafael Gomezbarros, Casa Tomada, Rijksmuseum. Photo: Henk Wildschut

Have you ever been to a world-known museum thinking, “Woah, I could have looked at this every morning”?.. Well, now you can. Imagine having artwork from Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum in your living room! This sounds crazy, but it is actually possible.

Located in Dubai Design District, Sevil Dolmaci Gallery recently presented its group exhibition “Playground.” The curators displayed the installation of hundreds of gigantic ants by Colombian artist Rafael Gomezbarros, who was recently shown in Rijksmuseum.

You saw it right. Seven hundred monumental ants.

These ants are part of Casa Tomada, an art installation by Rafael Gomezbarros, which has transformed first the museum's, and then the gallery’s public spaces from floor to ceiling.

Rafael Gomezbarros, Casa Tomada, Rijksmuseum. Photo: Henk Wildschut

"Casa Tomada" is Spanish for House Taken, referring to Julio Cortázar's short story , in which a house is mysteriously overtaken, forcing its inhabitants to flee.

The installation is a symbolic reflection on migration and forced displacement. Gomezbarros draws attention to the plight of people forced to leave their homes due to political unrest, violence, economic hardship, or climate change.

The ants, known for their industriousness and cooperative spirit, represent these displaced individuals. Using familiar imagery, the work prompts viewers to reflect on issues like uprootedness, migration, and the creation of new social orders in the wake of displacement.

The installation, which has travelled globally since 2008, is inspired by the Colombian Civil War (1964–2016), a conflict that left millions displaced.

Each ant is crafted from casts of human skulls, symbolising the loss of life and identity that comes with forced migration. The skulls are covered in Colombian sand and bound with cotton strips taken from T-shirts worn by Colombian farm workers, a group deeply affected by the war. The ants' legs are made from jasmine tree branches, which were once used to mask the scent of victims' bodies during the conflict.

As Gomezbarros puts it, “I use my work to evoke the image of travellers and immigrants in different cities.”

Known for showcasing both emerging and established artists, Sevil Dolmaci Gallery plays a significant role in Dubai's growing art landscape. And I couldn’t resist but to ask Sevil herself a couple of questions about the beautiful ants now anyone can have in their villas.

Rafael Gomezbarros, Casa Tomada, Rijksmuseum. Photo: Henk Wildschut

— How did you find out about this artist? Was it after his show in Rijksmuseum?

— I first encountered this artist in 2014 during an exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, which was spotlighting Latin American art. This was a year prior to the founding of my gallery. After its establishment, we curated the artist’s solo exhibition in Istanbul in 2019. Later, the artist had an exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in 2022. So, we discovered him prior to the Dutch museum.

— How does an artist's investigation of migration and identity reflect the gallery's values?

— Turkey has been a hub of attraction both geographically and historically for centuries. Migration and identity are key themes for us because of this. Colombia, due to political reasons, also focuses on migration. This shared focus was what brought us together.

Artists from different geographies, each with their own reasons and motivations, explore migration and identity through various mediums, and these diverse productions shape the overall vision of our gallery.

Set of Ants, Sevil Dolmaci Gallery

— What do you hope people would think or feel looking at these gigantic ants?

— Ants symbolise nature’s unparalleled diligence and organisational prowess. Colombia’s heightened political tension and internal conflicts in the 1990s spurred mass displacement. The artist reimagined this human exodus as a migration of ants moving in collective swarms. These ants are dispersed throughout the space in seemingly chaotic clusters.

Viewers are invited to perceive these industrious, organised creatures as metaphors for human masses in motion, invoking reflection on geopolitical, economic, and social discourses.

— What is the price of the set?

— Ants dome in the set of five; the price for the set is $55,000 USD

— Is there anything collectors and art lovers should know about this piece before purchasing?

— The works are made from recycled materials. Besides referencing natural and decayed aspects of society through its materials and production methods, the piece also carries a story shaped by Colombia’s political and social developments, which is something that should definitely be understood.

by Sophie She