Faisal Abdu'Allah: Live Salon

During his first visit to Aotearoa New Zealand, UK artist and barber Faisal Abdu’Allah will present Live Salon (Auckland) as part of his ongoing barber project.

The five-day performance within the heart of the city will offer passers-by the opportunity to have their hair cut for free. Reflecting on his life experiences and the relationship between being both an artist and a barber, Abdu’Allah will invite the audience to discuss the challenging questions of belonging and community that shape his practice.

Located near the site of an ancestral kāinga (village) where Māori life flourished alongside Te Wai Horotiu (the river that flowed down Queen Street valley) and its repo (wetland), Pā Rongorongo is an interactive citizen’s information hub that offers a new approach to sharing information about the city and its changes with residents and visitors. Set in this context, Live Salon (Auckland) will offer plentiful opportunities for local and global conversation.

Faisal Abdu’Allah first performed Live Salon at the Hayward Gallery at Southbank Centre, London, in 2006, as part of the British Art Show. It has also been staged at Tate Modern in 2010 and, more recently, at Tandem Press in Wisconsin, USA.

Supported by Auckland Council and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.