Dala Nasser's First Swiss Solo Exhibition at Kunsthalle Basel Reconstructs Byzantine Church

Kunsthalle Basel is showcasing Dala Nasser's inaugural institutional solo exhibition in Switzerland, titled 'Xíloma. MCCCLXXXVI.' This exhibit features an immersive installation that recreates the Byzantine Church of St. Christopher and its sixth-century mosaic floor across three distinct rooms. The ruins of the church are located in the disputed region of southern Lebanon, situated between Tyre and Qana. The title alludes to the 1,386 years the mosaic remained in its original location before being transferred to the Louvre in the nineteenth century. For the first time, Nasser employs cyanotype techniques to produce photographic prints using sand, soil, and dust. Additionally, a sound piece created with architect Mhamad Safa incorporates recordings from Beirut and Gibraltar, exploring themes of displacement, colonial extraction, and cultural erasure.