Saâdane Afif Untitled (More More), 2001/2007

Saâdane Afifs Neon-work is based on a drawing that appears in a letter written to Afif by his father. It recounts his experience as a child, when he was briefly sent away to the Algerian countryside for the sake of his health. He recounts his own prejudices about the rural community in which he found himself, and how they were challenged – and indeed reversed – by the drawing of a simple flower.

Afif translates this line drawing into neon, a material usually associated with advertising, but also with a long tradition in 20th century art. By doing so, it becomes an icon, a symbol. This piece was exhibited during WIELS’ opening show, Expats & Clandestines (2007), when it appeared on the building’s façade, as a sign to the neighborhood that the building was open for business.