Monia Ben Hamouda's First French Solo Exhibition at Ferme de Buisson

Monia Ben Hamouda, an artist of Tunisian-Italian descent, showcases her inaugural solo exhibition in France at the Centre d’art contemporain de la Ferme de Buisson. Hailing from Milan, she draws inspiration from her Tunisian roots and the Islamic calligraphy taught by her father. The exhibition includes large-scale sculptures and installations made from metal, wood, linen, and spices, which fill the environment with vibrant colors and aromas. Ben Hamouda explores aniconism, favoring text and decoration over representational forms, while connecting Middle Eastern and Western European art. Influenced by 16th-century Najdi poetry, her latest pieces view language as ever-evolving. Massive spice-dusted steel sculptures challenge gravity, while two expansive canvases utilize earth pigments, echoing cave art. In sand-laden areas, artworks gradually fade, contemplating time and history. The exhibition embraces ambiguity and untranslatability, celebrating the essence of unresolved narratives.