Wael Shawky’s 'Drama 1882': A highlight of the Venice Biennale in Brussels.
We’re happy to renew our partnership with Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Brussels’ leading international festival for contemporary theatre, dance, performance and visual arts. Every May, the festival brings together bold and timely artistic work, supporting both well-known and emerging voices. It’s one of the city’s most sought-after cultural events.
That’s why we’ve secured privileged access for 14 seats to one of the standout performances for you: ‘Drama 1882’ by Wael Shawky, a much-appraised highlight of last year’s Venice Biennale. Tickets can be purchased directly on our website until April 25 - first come, first served.
With ‘Drama 1882’, Wael Shawky raises questions about the ambiguities of documentary records and the authority of written history. The eight-part operatic film reconstructs the moment of Egypt’s nationalist Urabi revolt against colonial rule (1879-1882). A timely and critical conversation about the necessity of revisiting history and the futility of war.
©Wael Shawky
speaker
Visual artist Wael Shawky (° 1971) has presented works with narratives where fact and fiction intermingle through a variety of media including drawings, paintings, performances, and installations, with a focus on films. Reinterpreting existing historical narratives, the artist has addressed concepts regarding artistic, religious, and transnational identities based on extensive research and enquiry on history and mythology. Shawky’s films turn a broad range of themes and abstruse issues into fascinating epic poems. In addition to providing profound reflections on history and tradition, the lyrical visual language that he uses serves to translate the history of the Arabs and the Middle East, which have become fixed through a Western perspective, into contemporary narratives. Wael Shawky studied Fine Art at the University of Alexandria and at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His major recent solo exhibitions have been held at venues including the Tate Modern (2022), Louvre Abu Dhabi (2020), Castello di Rivoli (2016), Fondazione Merz (2016), MoMA PS1 (2015). His major recent group exhibitions include the Desert X AlUla (2020), the 14th Sharjah Biennial (2019). Since 2010, Shawky has established MASS Alexandria, an educational program in his hometown to provide support for young local artists.
