Rad Hourani is an interdisciplinary artist employing the mediums of sculpture, paint, photography, costume, architecture, curation, performance, text, sound, and video. His artistic approach to the hybridization of visual arts, is guided by the questioning of established hierarchies, assuming a decompartmentalization between disciplines. His art practice surrounds a theme of challenging the normative methods of human conformity conditioned by the contexts of social geopolitical, religious, sexual and economic systems. In the course of his life, Rad Hourani continuously observes the numerous ways in which the automatism of society categorizes humans with borders, and the violence that is born out of these divisions.

 

 

From an early age, Rad observes the meaning behind how the world is constructed. As a child, he analyzed the various forms of oppression perpetrated by the labeling of identity, be it through gender or class. His childhood memories of noticing these supremacies later lends to his familiarity in pushing the boundaries of societal binaries. Rad constantly dealt with the question “where are you really from?” being born in Jordan to a Syrian Orthodox Christian mother and a Jordanian-Canadian Catholic father, and growing up in Canada in his teen years. As an adult, he continued to feel a sense of non-belonging, as he lived in several cities, such as Paris and New York, which shaped his observations based on a global perspective.

 

 

He sees the tangible limitations caused by categorizations, which influences the trajectory of his theory of neutralization, expressed through his unrestricted works of art. Rad’s critique on the discriminatory basis of nationalism, racism, sexism, ageism, ableism and authoritarianism places his projects within a framework based on neutrality, as a tool for uniting all. Rad perceives humanity as a synonymous ecosystem of cultures, with sources of creativity through music, food, dance and art. He differentiates the nature of spirituality from patriarchal doctrines with the purpose of economic gain. His inquiry has led him to realize that if we continue marginalizing with labeled codes, we will further privilege those who govern us and divide to concur.

 

 

The artist’s philosophical baseline maintains that all individuals are multi-faceted and unique. His position validates humans equally as participants in the collective sphere, where are all living species are synchronized. Rad’s manifestations asks questions about existence and our modes of operation. His vision confronts institutional formalism and aesthetics, in laying the foundation for portraying a neutral archetype of the psyche. His ongoing ideation concedes to the power of visual consumption to open conversations and share knowledge that celebrates a non-conformist perception of belonging. Furthermore, with no post-secondary academic background, the learning is inherently beyond systematized construction and expansive in nature.

 

 

Rad continues to challenge the categorical pre-conceptions of his own identity as seen by society. As a classified BIPOC, Queer and Dyslexic artist, the multiplicity of his research creates many-sided conversations that comes from a non-hierarchical perspective. His anthropological studies involve lengthy research throughout his processes to inspires reflection, advocating for the revival of crucial debates and open dialogue on issues of inclusion and inequality.

 

 

Delving into these explorations demonstrates the structures based on the connotations associated with a subject, including various media, regarding its history, and its evolution. The work honours art’s ability to activate the human senses, which is projected as a connecting link between concepts. Rad looks at the genetics of categorization and how they are generated. His purpose aim to return to the basis of these precepts in order to achieve awareness of our preconceptions and generalizations. For Rad this is an act of radically de-compartmentalizing narratives, to allow us to envision an existence free from limitations and conditioning.

 

 

Rad Hourani’s work has been exhibited around the world, most notably at the Jardins du Palais-Royal in Paris in 2009, the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2012, the Tate Modern in London in 2013, the Guggenheim in Bilbao in 2017, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Noguchi Museum in New York, both in 2019.