Palais de Tokyo's 'Notre monde brûle' Exhibition Confronts Ecological and Political Crises Through Middle Eastern Art

From February 21 to May 17, 2020, the Palais de Tokyo in Paris showcased 'Notre monde brûle,' a joint exhibition with Mathaf museum in Qatar, featuring approximately thirty artists from the Middle East and North Africa. The artworks highlighted various crises, including ecological, sociopolitical, and historical issues. Among the pieces, Amal Kenawy's 'The Silent Multitudes' (2010) recreated Cairo's low-income housing with gas cylinders, while Shirin Neshat's 'Our House Is on Fire' (2013) portrayed Egyptians grieving relatives lost during the 2011 revolution. Mounira Al Solh illustrated Syrian refugees on asylum documents, and Michael Rakowitz reimagined looted Iraqi artifacts using food packaging. Khalil El Ghrib focused on ecological vulnerability in his installation, and Francis Alÿs presented oil paintings reflecting his experiences with British forces in Afghanistan. The exhibition drew criticism from LGBTQ+ organizations regarding its funding.