GAZA, the future has an ancient heart at Fondazione Merz
The exhibition "GAZA, the future has an ancient heart" is currently on display at Fondazione Merz in Turin, Italy, and will run until September 27, 2026. This event showcases over 80 artefacts sourced from the Egyptian Museum of Turin and MAH Genève. It features works by seven contemporary artists, including Wael Shawky, whose "The Secrets of Karbala" is part of his "Cabaret Crusades" trilogy, and Samaa Emad's "Reimagining Homeland," which incorporates archival imagery. This exhibition offers a stark contrast to the upcoming 2025 IMA Paris show, "Trésors sauvés de Gaza."
Key facts
- Exhibition 'GAZA, the future has an ancient heart' at Fondazione Merz, Turin, runs until 27 September 2026.
- Features over 80 artefacts from Egyptian Museum of Turin and MAH Geneva.
- Seven contemporary artists: Samaa Emad, Mirna Bamieh, Khalil Rabah, Vivien Sansour, Wael Shawky, Dima Srouji, Akram Zaatari.
- Wael Shawky's 'The Secrets of Karbala' (2015) is part of his 'Cabaret Crusades' trilogy.
- Samaa Emad's 'Reimagining Homeland' uses archival imagery and hand-drawn maps.
- Khalil Rabah's '50 Postcards, Another Geography' (2008) allows visitors to take postcards.
- Dima Srouji's 'Phantom Votives' (2025) uses beeswax-cast body parts.
- Exhibition contrasts with 2025 IMA Paris show 'Trésors sauvés de Gaza'.
Entities
Artists
- Wael Shawky
- Samaa Emad
- Mirna Bamieh
- Khalil Rabah
- Vivien Sansour
- Dima Srouji
- Akram Zaatari
Institutions
- Fondazione Merz
- Egyptian Museum of Turin
- MAH – Musée d'art et d'histoire of Geneva
- Institut du monde arabe (IMA)
Locations
- Turin
- Italy
- Gaza
- Mediterranean
- Paris
- France
- Syria
- Egypt
- Palestine