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The Duppy Conqueror (triptych), 2017
Jacquard tapestries, 117 x 60 inches, each. Courtesy of the Artist and Magnolia Editions.

DARK MATTER an exhibition by British artist Faisal Abdu'Allah, is now on view at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA). The exhibition explores personal identity, cultural representation, and self-determination.

DARK MATTER, open through April 2, 2023, includes a selection of the artist's most celebrated series, as well as a reconstruction of Garden of Eden (2003/2022), an architectural installation the artist created in collaboration with renowned architect Sir David Adjaye. It is the first time that Garden of Eden will be exhibited in the United States. This interactive work separates visitors based on genetic traits—in this case, eye color. With Garden of Eden, Abdu'Allah points to the privileges conferred to certain people based on the nuances of their genetic matter. 

In other works, Abdu'Allah uses human hair—a carrier of DNA—and focuses on the ritual of cutting hair. Abdu'Allah is also a trained barber, a profession he has fully integrated into his artistic practice, most notably through his Live Salon performances (2006-present). During each Live Salon session, he provides free haircuts to willing participants and engages them in open-ended conversations about issues surrounding contemporary social identity and representation. 

In Hairtraits (2016-present), Abdu'Allah uses participants' actual hair, which he blends into a fine powder to render their portrait on paper. The artist explains, "Essentially, it brings their DNA, their identity, into the work. Our hair carries a trace of who we are, and it is extremely political. In the history of post-colonialism, the straighter your hair was, the higher up on the chain of respect you were." 

As a prelude to DARK MATTER, a stone counter-monument titled Blu³eprint was installed outside the Museum in February 2022. Abdu'Allah first conceived of the sculpture several years ago in response to debates about the role of monuments and their removal from public view. 

DARK MATTER was organized by former MMoCA Curator of Exhibitions Leah Kolb. Presenting Sponsorship for DARK MATTER has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Faisal Abdu'Allah is a British-born, Wisconsin-based artist and barber. He studied in London at the Royal College of Art. He is Professor of Printmaking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2019 Mayor of London Award, 2016 Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant Program for Painters and Sculptors, 2012 Mayors prize for sustainability for his film Double Pendulum, Decibel Visual Artist Award, London, and First Prize at the Tallinn Print Triennial, Estonia.

Abdu'Allah is an Honorary Professor at the University of Bedfordshire (UK). In 2021, he was named the Chazen Family Distinguished Chair in Art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

ABOUT MMoCA

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art offers free daily admission. The Museum includes four galleries and The Shop, a space to provide interactive contemporary art experiences and educational workshops to the community.

MMoCA's galleries are open Thursday-Sunday from 12-6 p.m. Please visit mmoca.org to learn more. 

Fulton Books author Susan Reuben, who has a BA degree from UCLA in environmental design, has completed her most recent book "Benjamin's Big Question: Am I a Dog or a Person?": a charming and engaging children's story complete with beautiful illustrations that help to bring the story to life. 

This delightful story introduces Benjamin, an apricot-colored standard poodle. He has been wondering for a long time whether he's a dog or a person dressed in a poodle costume. He needs the help of readers to figure this out. He explains why he is so confused and asks readers a lot of questions which they are encouraged to help him answer. 

After having lived in several parts of the United States, Europe, and the Mediterranean, author Susan Reuben met her husband, Gary, and settled in Los Angeles, California, where she grew up. Together they have three children and six grandchildren and continue to work together in their own business. She has been an artist for most of her life. She is an advocate for historic preservation and collaborates with the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Susan feels blessed to have been the mother of six wonderful dogs and two black and white cats who thought they were dogs. The latest canine child is Benjamin, an apricot-colored standard poodle who thinks he's a person in a poodle suit. She feels dogs are the best teachers since children don't even know they are learning lessons from them that will help them grow up into caring and responsible adults. 

"Benjamin's Big Question: Am I a Dog or a Person?" is the first book in a series in which Benjamin introduces important life values, such as empathy, kindness, honesty, respect, and friendship, humorously and engagingly.

Susan believes all animals teach people life lessons, especially those who share their homes and everyday lives. 

Susan writes, "Do you have a dog who thinks he or she is really a person in a dog suit? Most dogs are not able to talk about their confusion, but Benjamin is very chatty. It's very important for him to find out the truth. Can you please help him figure it out?"

Published by Fulton Books, Susan Reuben's book offers a fun, interactive experience for young readers and listeners as they help Benjamin discover who he truly is. 

Readers who wish to experience this memorable work can purchase "Benjamin's Big Question: Am I a Dog or a Person?" at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes & Noble.

Please direct all media inquiries to Author Support via email at [email protected] or via telephone at 877-210-0816.