Hoda Tawakol's 'Silent Voices in a Palm Grove' at Dortmunder Kunstverein

French-Egyptian artist Hoda Tawakol presents her first institutional solo exhibition, 'Silent Voices in a Palm Grove,' at Dortmunder Kunstverein, curated by Rebekka Seubert, running until 11 June. The exhibition weaves narratives of female resilience through hair and fabric. A newly commissioned 8 x 19-metre curtain, 'Palm Grove #1' (2023), spans half the glass facade, depicting palm trees in Chinese ink. Inside, 'Warrior #2' (2011) is a body-shaped sculpture of dark synthetic hair, metal, and resin. Hair grids from 2011-2014 advocate hair as armour, including 'Hair #7' (2014), a braided red headpiece. A series of lures draws from falconry, with 'Lure #25' (2021-23) featuring a feminine silhouette. Upstairs, 'Salamlek #1' (2023) replicates a male meeting space from Bayt Al-Suhaymi in Medieval Cairo, with ten falcon hood-like hats. The artist booklet 'The Eyes of My Mothers' explores her childhood with three mother figures across two continents, inspired by the myth of Horus. Tawakol's works blur gender binaries, echoing palm trees that can change sex. The exhibition is reviewed in Canvas 108.