Beirut-based contemporary visual artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan was shortlisted for the annual Turner Prize following a press conference held in the Tate institution, London.
In 2018, Lawrence Abu Hamdan was announced as the winner of the Abraaj Group Art Prize, during its 10th edition in Art Dubai. This year, the 34-year old Lebanese artist has been shortlisted for the prestigious Turner Prize 2019. Hamdan explores themes of human rights and law through an evocative, intense interplay of varying sounds, showcasing the power of audio distortions through visual art.
Enthralling works by the artist include Earwitness Inventory (2018), which comprises 95 sound objects that were used to retrieve certain memories in a series of legal cases and Earshot (2016), where the artist visualises the sound frequencies of gun shots fired in the West Bank five years ago, killing two teenagers. Hamdan took part in the investigation and through his art, he presents a captivating visual representation of the firing sounds.
The talented artist is qualified to work on forensic audio investigations in the UK and has advocated for several non-government organisations including Defence for Children International and Amnesty International.
