Tai Shani's "M.I.A.S.M.A." Brings Antigone's Grief to Kunsthalle Bern

Tai Shani will unveil her inaugural institutional solo exhibition in Switzerland, titled "M.I.A.S.M.A." (2026), which is organized by Kunsthalle Bern and Jupiter Artland and centers around Sophocles' Antigone. The London-based artist, who shared the Turner Prize in 2019, showcases twelve written choruses, each named "We the...," blending Sophocles' text with her own voice, alongside sculptures such as Pollen Drunk Bees. Twelve sculptures, each placed on steel tripods and covered by handblown glass cloches, feature silk roses, pearls, and more. Additionally, three oil paintings, Miasma: P, I, and A (2026), portray Antigone, Polynices, and Ismene. The sound installation MIASMA (2026) includes a choral piece by Aga Ujma, as Shani examines the concept of mourning through cultural symbols.