Unhealed

Artists: Asim Abdulaziz, Aya Albarghathy, Muhammad Ali, Héla Ammar, Marwa al-Sabouni, Selim Ben Sheikh, Shady Elnoshokaty, Safaa Erruas, Hadia Gana, Khaled Hafez, Diana Jabi, Rachid Koraichi, Moataz Nasr, Adrian Paci, Mario Rizzi, Fethi Sahraoui, and Mouna Jemal Siala.

Curators: Abir Boukhari and Joa Ljungberg

Galleries: Turbine Hall and Loading Dock

PRESS VIEWING: Thursday, February 29, 10.00. More information below.

In my life, I have seen hope and despair entangled in relentless cycles, in Arab countries as well as in the rest of the world. Every sunrise brings a glimmer of hope – of a better life, a new beginning – only to vanish again when fate stubbornly repeats: “Not this time”, says Abir Boukhari, co-curator of “Unhealed”.

The exhibition “Unhealed” portrays existential experiences amid major social upheaval. It navigates through feelings of hope and despair, bringing us beyond political analysis. Through sculpture, painting, drawing, film and photography, it embodies a poetic narrative rather than a strict historical account. The contributing artists are predominantly based in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen, but also in Albania, Italy, Romania, and Sweden.

When I first asked Abir to collaborate on this project, she was hesitant; the subject was still too much of an open wound. Now, several years later, we are about to realise this exhibition. It feels both powerful and important, particularly when considering all those directly affected who now live in Sweden, says Joa Ljungberg, co-curator of “Unhealed”.

During the exhibition period, the workshop will be activated under the guidance of the artist Rami Khouri. Visitors to the exhibition are welcome to sit down and work with clay and text on their own, as well as during specific workshop sessions.

Programme and events:

March 2: No to Division: Workshop on social cohesion with the artist Mouna Jemal Siala.

March 2: Walk-and-talk: special guided tour with artists Muhammad Ali, Héla Ammar, Selim Ben Cheikh, Shady Elnoshokaty, Safaa Erruas, and Khaled Hafez. Led by exhibition curators Abir Boukhari and Joa Ljungberg.

May 4: The war on cultural heritage: lecture by the author Anders Rydell.

May 18: Artist meetings – Additional artists working in the region and addressing the exhibition’s themes present their works.

May 23: The possibilities of architecture to create and counteract conflicts: lecture by the Homs based architect Marwa Al-Sabouni (digitally).

For updates, visit the website: www.modernamuseet.se

PRESS VIEWING: Thursday, February 29 at 10:00 at Moderna Museet Malmö in the presence of the curators Abir Boukhari and Joa Ljungberg, and the artists Muhammad Ali, Héla Ammar, Selim Ben Cheikh, Shady Elnoshokaty, Safaa Erruas, Khaled Hafez, and Mouna Jemal Siala.

RSVP on or before February 27 to Alexandra Giertz at a.giertz@modernamuseet.se. The press viewing is intended for journalists and writers. We request that, upon RSVP, you provide the name of the newspaper or other medium for which you write.

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Alexandra Giertz, Communication Manager at Moderna Museet Malmö, at a.giertz@modernamuseet.se or +46 734228739.

Moderna Museet Malmö, part of the state-owned Moderna Museet, is funded by the City of Malmö, Skåne Regional Council and the Swedish Government.