"Seeking to challenge dominant narratives": opening of a new exhibition at MUDAM
The collaborative work of Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska is a large-scale exploration of women's lives and experiences through the prism of contemporary art. The artists reflect on collective memory, identity and female representation. Ahead of the exhibition opening, we spoke to the organisers about the work.
Source: mudam.com
— How did Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska come to work together and what is their work about?
— The collaboration between Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska in Sharjah was born out of a shared desire to explore and celebrate women's stories and experiences, particularly in the context of contemporary art.
Himid, a British artist of Tanzanian origin, is known for her engagement with issues of race, gender and identity, while Stawarska, a Polish artist, is interested in memory, history and visual narrative.
Initiated by the Sharjah Art Foundation, a dynamic cultural centre, and curator Omar Kholeif, this meeting has enabled the two artists to communicate and unite their artistic visions, with their collaborative work influenced by themes such as collective memory, identity and the representation of women in art.
The main message of this collaboration is to value women's voices and bring to light stories that are often neglected. Through their work, Himid and Stawarska seek to challenge dominant narratives and create space for alternative narratives. Their work invites audiences to reflect on issues of identity, culture and gender, while celebrating the diversity of women's experiences.
The event is free for visitors.
— The exhibition explores memory in the form of a visual and sound score. How was this dialogue between painting, installation and sound designed?
— The exhibition functions as a performance in which memory is narrated through different media. At the heart of the journey is Zanzibar (1999-2023) by Lubaina Himid, which traces real and imagined journeys through nine diptychs, accompanied by a sound environment designed by Magda Stawarska. This sonic landscape, which mixes rain sounds recorded between England and Zanzibar with a 38-minute multi-channel 'libretto', explores movement, memory and reconstruction.
— What are the key elements of the exhibition that visitors should not miss?
— Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska's exhibition offers a rich palette of artistic experiences that invite reflection and engagement. Visitors are encouraged to explore these key elements to fully appreciate the depth and breadth of both artists' work. Here are some of the most striking aspects: Himid and Stawarska's works are often designed to create immersive environments. Visitors should take the time to explore these installations, which invite a sensory and emotional experience and immerse them in rich visual narratives.
Himid is known for her bold use of colour and varied materials. Visitors are encouraged to observe how these aesthetic choices reinforce the message of her work and create a unique atmosphere.
Stawarska herself often uses sculptural elements and installations that add a tactile dimension to the experience. The exhibition is set in a wider cultural context and visitors are encouraged to consider the historical and social influences that have shaped the artists' work. This may include references to historical events, artistic movements or social struggles.
— How does this exhibition fit into Mudam's commitment to engaged artists and intercultural narratives?
— In the heart of Luxembourg, a country of cultural diversity, Mudam reaffirms its commitment by highlighting two artists who question migratory trajectories and intercultural narratives. Nets for Night and Day embodies this mission through a powerful dialogue between painting, sculpture, silkscreen, photography and sound installation. Moving boats, immersive soundscapes and works exploring exile and belonging resonate with the contemporary realities of displacement. Promoting an experience that is both sensual and participatory, the exhibition illustrates Mudam's vocation to be a space for reflection, encounter and engagement with the great issues of our time.
— What are the next major exhibitions planned at Mudam this year?
— Our programme will be varied and ambitious! From 4 April, Nude Wing by Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press will be installed in our main hall. The artist will transform an aeroplane wing into a monumental and reflective sculpture that questions beauty, power and war. The work will engage in a dialogue with Ieoh Ming Pei's emblematic architecture. At the same time, a new presentation of the Mudam collection will highlight recent acquisitions and major works, particularly by female artists from the 1990s and 2000s.
From the 7th of May, Mudam will invest the public space with two outdoor installations as part of LUGA - Luxembourg Urban Garden. The Living Pyramid by Agnes Denes, a participatory plant pyramid, will take place in the Dräi Eechelen park, while The Lower World by Susan Philipsz will transform the Aquatunnel, a heritage site under the city of Luxembourg, into an immersive sound experience. On 17 and 18 May, a performance by Bárbara Sánchez-Kane, co-produced with the TONO festival, will combine poetry, dance and music in a reflection on community and everyday rituals. This event will be part of the programme of the Luxembourg Museum Days.
In September, we will unveil an exhibition dedicated to Tiffany Sia, winner of the Baloise Art Prize 2024. Through her film The Sojourn, she questions memory, exile and the impact of moving images on the perception of history. The autumn will be marked by two major exhibitions. A retrospective of Eleanor Antin, a pioneer of conceptual and feminist art, will trace her work, which combines photography, performance and installation. In parallel, A Comparative Dialogue Act by Andrea Mancini and Every Island, inspired by their project for the Luxembourg Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2024, will offer a sound and performance installation exploring the interaction between sound, space and body.
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