Wael Shawky's Drama 1882 Gets U.S. Premiere at MOCA

From February 20 to March 16, 2025, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles will present the U.S. debut of Wael Shawky's film installation, Drama 1882, at WAREHOUSE at The Geffen Contemporary. This eight-part opera, filmed in a historic theater in Alexandria, was commissioned for the Egyptian Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale. It explores the populist revolution led by Colonel Ahmed Urabi from 1879 to 1882 against European imperialism, questioning the nature of a cafe altercation between a local donkey owner and a Maltese man—whether it was an accident or a British setup to justify bombardment, resulting in colonial rule from 1882 to 1956. Shawky, who wrote, scored, choreographed, and directed the piece, utilized classical Arabic, period costumes, and expressionist sets. MOCA's Chief Curator Clara Kim recognized Shawky as a vital global artist, while Associate Curator Alex Sloane noted the work's fusion of film, performance, and installation. A discussion featuring Shawky and Sloane is scheduled for February 22, 2025, from 3-4pm at the venue.