Relics of Now at Triennale Milano: Saba Innab and Armando Perna on Palestinian Exile

The exhibition 'Relics of Now,' curated by Emilia Giorgi with support from Fondazione Merz, opens at Triennale di Milano during Milano Arch Week 2018. It juxtaposes works by Palestinian architect and artist Saba Innab and Italian photographer Armando Perna, exploring themes of temporariness, instability, and nomadism in contemporary architecture and urban space. Innab presents 'Momentary Foundations,' a composition of drawings, archival photographs, and texts examining Palestinian settlements that began as temporary but became permanent. Perna's series 'Shatila. The Twilight World' documents the Shatila Palestinian camp in Beirut's southern suburb Dahiye, offering an unprecedented view of the Lebanese capital beyond its war-torn past or glossy new skyline. Giorgi emphasizes both artists are 'militant authors' using their research as a practice of responsibility. The exhibition does not establish a literal relationship between the two but evokes dialogue and connections, inviting visitors to construct their own narratives. A preview was held at the Turin Book Fair before arriving at Triennale.