Nidhal Chamekh's 'Et si Carthage?' exhibition at Selma Feriani explores imperial history through speculative ruins

At the Selma Feriani gallery in Tunis, Tunisian artist Nidhal Chamekh showcases his exhibition 'Et si Carthage?', which will be open until 24 March. This display includes large ink-and-graphite drawings on paper measuring 250 × 200 cm, hung from scaffolding alongside replicas of Roman statues. Chamekh explores Édouard Glissant's inquiry regarding the destiny of Carthage after 146 BCE. The artwork incorporates Roman designs, altered images of European generals, and artifacts from North Africa. The use of Arabic, French, Italian, and Latin reflects the imperial past of Tunis. Highlights include expressive graphite lines, severed plaster figures, and a contrast between a rifle diagram and a hunter's image, along with collages, archival content, and videos that reference migration paths from Diyar al Hajjaj to Pantelleria.