Foreign Body

Featuring aspects of biotourism, Hatoum uses the strategy of abjection in displaying the internal cavities in a way that has the effect of swallowing up the viewer. This complex piece is composed of a cylindrical space with padded walls where the viewer is invited to enter and see a video of Hatoum’s internal body. As such, she makes use of indispensable medical imaging technology (that without, the work would not exist). Hatoum uses the strategy of abjection in displaying the internal cavities in a way that has the effect of swallowing up the viewer. The abject destabilizes boundaries. Hatoum is a Palestinian artist (born in Lebanon but she is of Palestinian origin).