Born 1977, Moscow, Russia
Lives and works in Paris, France

By Isabella Ellaheh Hughes
Bouabdellah’s practice engages with the aftereffects of globalisation to comment on the postcolonial relationship between French and Algerian cultures. Over the past decade, she has heavily focussed on issues related to women, often through text-based works which emphasise the concept of love. In Two Lovers, the Arabic word ‘hub’ or ‘love’ is doubled in a sinuous overlapped structure made of flashing neon lights. The sensuous way in which the letters are intertwined suggests two lovers’ bodies. Born in Moscow, Zoulikha Bouabdellah grew up in Algiers before moving to France in 1993 due to the Algerian Civil War. Working across an array of mediums, including photography, multimedia installation, neon, drawing and video, she graduated from the École nationale supérieure d'arts de Cergy-Pontoise in 2002.