Marais, Paris
Lawrence Abu Hamdam
Overdub
Mor CharpentierLawrence Abu Hamdan was born in 1985 in Amman, Jordan. He lives and works between Dubai and Beirut. Abu Hamdan is a researcher, filmmaker, artist, and activist who describes himself as a “Private Ear” using sound to shape his artistic practice. Abu Hamdan has conducted sonic investigations in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, France, and the UK, which he conveys through his distinctive aesthetic vision. Together with his team at the newly founded organization Earshot, Abu Hamdan works closely with NGOs such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Defense for Children International, and B’Tselem, Abu Hamdan emphasizes the essential role of the “politics of listening” in his work. His sound pieces resonate with people on the margins of society, including those exposed to war and violence, and have been utilized as concrete legal evidence and advocacy. His works have been presented in solo exhibitions at the Munch Museum, Oslo (2025); Mudam, Luxemburg (2024); Frac Franche Comté, Besançon (2024); Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburg (2023); MUAC, Mexico City (2023); MoMA, New York (2023); Spike Island, Bristol (2023); Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin (2022); Sharjah Art Foundation (2022); Kunstverein Nürnberg (2021); Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm (2021); Secession, Vienna (2020); Towner Eastbourne, UK (2020); Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin (2019); Institute of Modern Art, Birsbane (2019); Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis (2019); Witte de With, Rotterdam (2019); Chisenhale Gallery, London (2018); Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2018); Tate Modern Tanks, London (2018); Portikus, Frankfurt (2016); Kunsthalle St Gallen (2015); Van AbbeMuseum, Eindhoven (2013); The Showroom, London (2012); and Casco, Utrecht (2012), among others. Lawrence Abu Hamdam works are part of collections at Reina Sofia, MoMA, Guggenheim, Hamburger Bahnhof, Van AbbeMuseum, Centre Pompidou and Tate Modern. Abu Hamdan has been widely recognized internationally with awards such as the Grand Prix at Winterthur International Film Festival, the 2020 Toronto Biennial Audience Award, co-winner of the Turner Prize 2019, the 2019 Edvard Munch Art Award, the award for best short film at the 2017 Rotterdam International Film Festival and the 2016 Nam June Paik Award for new media.