ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Navine G. Khan-Dossos critiques UK's Prevent counter-terrorism program through abstract murals at The Showroom

exhibition · 2026-04-20

Navine G. Khan-Dossos showcases 'There Is No Alternative' at The Showroom in London until July 27, delving into the UK government's Prevent counter-terrorism initiative. The exhibition features two expansive murals and nine panels painted live, reinterpreting Prevent logos into geometric designs that reveal surveillance systems. Among the highlights are a lime-green shield from Hampshire Constabulary and a blue fingerprint from the Metropolitan Police in London. A central table displays documents acquired through Freedom of Information requests, including the 2017 National Union of Students handbook titled 'Preventing Prevent' and reports from the Open Society Justice Initiative. Khan-Dossos, originally from the UK and now based in Athens, has previously focused on ISIS imagery. The Home Office announced an independent review of Prevent for summer 2019, raising concerns about the rationale behind pre-criminal surveillance.

Key facts

  • Navine G. Khan-Dossos's exhibition 'There Is No Alternative' runs through July 27 at The Showroom in London
  • The exhibition critiques the UK's Prevent counter-terrorism program established under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act of 2015
  • Khan-Dossos creates abstract murals based on Prevent logos from police forces and institutions across England, Wales, and Scotland
  • The artist paints live during gallery hours on nine moveable panels that she rehangs throughout the exhibition
  • A central table displays documents including the National Union of Students handbook 'Preventing Prevent' from 2017
  • Free workshops invite participants to examine Prevent documentation and consider alternatives to the program
  • The Home Office announced an independent review of Prevent scheduled for summer 2019
  • Khan-Dossos previously created works examining ISIS imagery including 'The Black Standard' (2016) and 'Infoesque' (2017)

Entities

Artists

  • Navine G. Khan-Dossos
  • Margaret Thatcher

Institutions

  • The Showroom
  • National Union of Students
  • Open Society Justice Initiative
  • Home Office
  • Hampshire Constabulary Graphics Department
  • Metropolitan Police
  • ISIS

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • England
  • Wales
  • Scotland
  • Athens
  • Greece

Sources