Akram Zaatari
The End of Time
Akram Zaatari’s short video-poem The End of Time is a profound exploration of memory, temporality, and the impact of conflict on personal and collective histories. This artwork stages a choreography between two lovers, performed by three actors switching roles, filmed in an all-white space, with no spatial boundaries or identifiable features, in which figures cast no shadows. The lovers separate, leaving material belongings behind. Part of Zaatari’s broader engagement with archival material and documentary practices, this work features a carefully curated collection of photographs, letters, and other ephemera. Zaatari employs these fragments to weave a narrative that addresses the disjunctions and continuities in Middle Eastern history, particularly focusing on Lebanon. The title suggests a contemplation of moments when history feels both suspended and urgent, reflecting on the cyclical nature of conflict and peace. Zaatari’s meticulous arrangement of these elements creates a dialogue between past and present, highlighting the resilience and fragility of human experiences. The work challenges viewers to engage with the personal dimensions of history, urging a deeper understanding of the ways in which individual stories are intertwined with broader socio-political currents. Through this, Zaatari invites contemplation on the enduring legacies of time and memory.