Omar A. Chowdhury
Moving Image: Augustijn
Augustijn is the title of a multichannel installation by artist Omar A. Chowdhury, based on his real-life chance encounter with a young Belgian man called Stijn, short for Augustijn, and the relationship the two have developed since then. The charismatic Stijn is a recent convert to Islam, and his devotion comes to the fore when he discusses his religious beliefs against the backdrop of his hometown, the post-industrial Flemish city of Aalst. Chowdhury’s personal journey in the opposite direction—from a Muslim background to atheism—forms an additional layer in this portrayal of Stijn, and informs their exchanges and mutual fascination. Yet where does the line run between life and art? What does it mean for the subject of the artist’s work to be represented by his autonomous actions?