Akram Zaatari’s ‘Dance to the End of Love’ is now showing at Tate Modern. A dance piece based on YouTube clips from countries across West Asia and North Africa, including Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman, Zaatari chose material from 2005–10 of mostly young men performing activities that range from singing, dancing and playing music. They recreate scenes from sci-fi films or do stunts: special effects fireballs are hurled across the screen and jeeps are driven out into the desert in precarious positions.
 
The clips show how attitudes around masculine identities quickly spread and adapt to different settings and contexts. Cyberspace creates an audience and turns their performances into popular trends to repeat or re-enact. Zaatari completed this work at the beginning of a period of anti-government protests and uprisings, referred to as the ‘Arab Spring’ by western commentators. YouTube and other self-broadcast platforms played an important role in the political climate at that time.
 
Tate Modern, Blavatnik Building Level 3. On view as part of Tate Modern's Collection Route