Wael Shawky's Crusades Films in Palermo's Historic Venues
Wael Shawky's double exhibition in Palermo, the first step of the 'Punte brillanti di lance' project, presents his short films on the Crusades drawn from medieval Islamic sources. The project is a collaboration between the city of Palermo, Fondazione Sicilia, and Fondazione Merz. In the crypt of the Church of SS. Euno and Giuliano, 'Al Araba Al Madfuna III' features characters emerging from sand and baroque-style niches. At Palazzo Branciforte, 'Cabaret Crusades: The Path to Cairo' uses puppets from the Cuticchio family collection, moving among 17th-century wooden shelves of the Monte di Pietà. The films stage encounters between Saracens and paladins, using beauty, dialogue, and peace as weapons.
Key facts
- Wael Shawky was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1971.
- The exhibition is the first step of the 'Punte brillanti di lance' project.
- The project is a collaboration between Palermo, Fondazione Sicilia, and Fondazione Merz.
- The exhibition uses two locations: the Church of SS. Euno and Giuliano and Palazzo Branciforte.
- In the crypt, 'Al Araba Al Madfuna III' shows characters in sand and baroque-style loculi.
- At Palazzo Branciforte, 'Cabaret Crusades: The Path to Cairo' features puppets from the Cuticchio family.
- The puppets move among 17th-century wooden shelves of the Monte di Pietà.
- The films draw from medieval Islamic sources about the Crusades.
Entities
Artists
- Wael Shawky
Institutions
- Fondazione Sicilia
- Fondazione Merz
- Church of SS. Euno and Giuliano
- Palazzo Branciforte
- Monte di Pietà
- Cuticchio family
Locations
- Palermo
- Italy
- Alexandria
- Egypt