Wael Shawky: Cabaret Crusades and Other Stories

The exhibition presents two newly completed film trilogies, each inspired by stories and scripts of literature; Cabaret Crusades (2010-2014) draws on Amin Maalouf’s novel The Crusades through Arab Eyes (1983) while Al Araba Al Madfuna (2012-2015) collages the stories of Mohamed Mustagab with the artists experience living in Upper Egypt. Over fifty ceramic and glass marionettes from the Cabaret Crusades, and drawings from both series share insight on the making of the films.

I worked closely with the curator and artist to  produce the scenography.  The intention was for the exhibition elements to blend into the architecture while creating an original atmosphere that combined the artist’s references of history, literature, and cinema. A large vitrine of glass marionettes and drawings from Cabaret Crusades set the stage, leading to the six films screening across the ground floor galleries. This vitrine had a stretched light ceiling from which the marionettes were suspended. I designed 6 mini cinemas in the galleries and lead the AV planning and implementation.