Allan Sekula

Jointly developed by M HKA and the KU Leuven, this long-term, interdisciplinary research project focuses on a specific, yet complex body of work; multifaceted and variably installable, unfinished and open-ended: Ship of Fools / The Dockers' Museum (2010-2013) by artist and theorist Allan Sekula (1951-2013). Informed by the research of the team members, the project continues to evolve in a succession of research outputs, such as this digital platform.

Allan Sekula. Collective Sisyphus

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(c)image: M HKA

Untitled

Photography , 20.4 x 25.3 cm

ink, paper

BABYLON IRAQ (THE ANCIENT RUINED WALLS OF BABYLON. BABYLON. ANCIENT CITY OF ASIA, ON THE EUPHRATES, CAPITAL OF THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE) [as indicated on reverse of photograph], black-and-white photograph, 20.4 x 25.3 cm. Date of purchase by Allan Sekula unknown.

On the backside of the photograph:

BABYLON IRAQ

BABYLON, ANCIENT CITY OF ASIA, ON THE EUPHRATES, CAPITAL OF THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE. IT'S GREAT PERIOD WAS FROM 188 TO 500 B.C. IT STOOD ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER AND WAS AN ENORMOUS CITY FILLED WITH MAGNIFICENT BUILDINGS, IT'S HANGING GARDENS WERE COUNTED AS ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD.

THE CITY WAS SURROUNDED BY A MOAT AND TWO MASSIVE WALLS, WITHIN THE WALLS WERE IMPOSING BUILDINGS AND IN PARTICULAR, PROCESSIAN ST. WHICH PASSED THROUGH ISHTAR GATE, TOWARDS THE TEMPLE TOWER "ZIGGURAT" WITH THE RUIN OF SOUTH PALACE ON ONE SIDE, AMONGST WHICH HOUSED THE FAMOUS HANGING GARDENS AND TEMPLES OF MARDUK, ISHTAR, GULA AND NINURTA. THE HISTORY OF BABYLON ENDED IN 275 B.C. WHEN THE INHABITANTS WERE REMOVED TO THE NEW CITY OF SELEUCIA AFTER ITS CAPTURE BY ALEXANDER.

PHOTO SHOWS: THE ANCIENT RUINED WALLS OF BABYLON.

T/KEYSTONE 2374/886900

200508 J809

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