Evaporating Suns: Contemporary Myths from the Arabian Gulf at Basel's Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger

The exhibition 'Evaporating Suns: Contemporary Myths from the Arabian Gulf' at Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger in Basel, Switzerland, explores the enduring power of myth in Middle Eastern contemporary art. Curated by Munira Al Sayegh and Veronika Formanek, the show features works by Maitha Abdalla, Alaa Edris, Bu Yousuf, Mashael Alsaie, and Fatima Uzdenova, among others. Abdalla's 'The Dancer’s Skin & Alluring Silence' examines narrative's impact on civilization through hybrid human-animal sculptures and a neo-expressionist painting. Edris's 'The Chair' presents seven carved wooden thrones representing the seven emirates of the UAE, each with distinct mythological traditions shaped by geography. Bu Yousuf's 'Heaven Resort & Casino' critiques the new mythology of money with slot machines from three casinos. Alsaie's 'Barren Spring' addresses eco-feminism and oral culture, referencing the dried-up Adhari spring in Bahrain and incorporating glass sculptures with incense and an audio recording of the artist's grandmother. Uzdenova's 'Pantheon: Setting the Table (Act I)' honors the female trinity of adolescence, maturity, and senescence, emphasizing moral strength and rejecting capitalist society. The exhibition runs until July 16, 2023, at Spitalstrasse 18, Basel.