Dislocations at Palais de Tokyo: Exile and Textile Art
Dislocations, a group exhibition at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, features 15 artists from MENA countries, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and France, united by themes of exile and displacement. The show, running until 30 June 2024, is surprisingly strong despite the venue's recent poor programming. Textile art dominates, with works by May Murad (Palestine), Rada Akbar (Afghanistan), Nge Lay (Myanmar), Majd Abdel Hamid (Palestine), Ali Arkady (Iraq), and Armineh Negahdari (Iran). Murad's paintings from her Human Error series explore virtual encroachment, while Akbar's dress honors activist Shakila Zareen. Nge Lay uses a dirty mattress to evoke her homeland, and Abdel Hamid's tapestries depict Beirut safe rooms. Arkady transfers war photos onto concrete shards, and Negahdari presents absurdist figures based on ancient effigies. Low points include works by Cathryn Boch and Sara Kontar.
Key facts
- Dislocations is a group show at Palais de Tokyo, Paris, running until 30 June 2024.
- The exhibition features 15 artists from MENA countries, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and France.
- All participants create work meditating on the theme of exile.
- Textile art is the dominant medium, including tapestries, conceptual pieces, and wearable clothing.
- May Murad's paintings from her Human Error series (2022–23) depict a slumped figure with digital disruptions.
- Rada Akbar's Survivor and Advocate dress honors Shakila Zareen, an Afghan activist.
- Nge Lay presents a dirty mattress with embroidery, referencing Myanmar's 'golden land'.
- Majd Abdel Hamid's tapestries are floor plans of Beirut safe rooms from the 2020 disaster.
Entities
Artists
- May Murad
- Rada Akbar
- Nge Lay
- Majd Abdel Hamid
- Ali Arkady
- Armineh Negahdari
- Cathryn Boch
- Sara Kontar
- Shakila Zareen
- Josef Albers
Institutions
- Palais de Tokyo
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Gaza
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Ukraine
- Canada
- Beirut
- Iran
- Iraq
- Syria