(born 1970 in Dugny/Seine-Saint-Denis).
Attia's past and life in a Paris suburb where the graves of the French royal dynasties are to be found and which is also a hotspot of inter-cultural conflict has had a decisive impact on his work. Using his own identity that has been defined by several cultures as the starting point, he tackles the increasingly difficult relationship between Europe and immigrants, particularly those of Islamic faith. In doing so he does not allow himself to be tied down to one specific medium. His photographic work and films portray the smouldering conflicts arising from the history of French colonialisation and are characterised by exceptional attention to detail. The allegorical minimalism of his sculptures and installations on the other hand is frequently unsettling owing to the discord between their external sensory appeal and their controversial content. He then builds installations questioning the viewer about his fantasies and phobias.
