M Leuven presents a large solo exhibition by Wael Shawky

M Leuven presents a large solo exhibition of work by Egyptian artist Wael Shawky. The exhibition, entitled Dry Culture Wet Culture, brings together works from different series and presents two new in-situ installation works. These are all projects in which Shawky frames contemporary culture from a historical perspective and vice versa.

With the title of the exhibition, Dry Culture Wet Culture, Shawky attempts to capture the characteristics and contradictions of these social evolutions in two concepts. In the development of societies, certainly in the Arab world, he sees a constant shift from a so-called Dry Culture - a traditional form of existence of wandering Bedouins in the dry desert - to a Wet Culture - a sedentary society based on irrigation and agriculture. Shawky's focus is therefore often on the links that may or may not exist between old and new - between Dry and Wet Culture.
The exhibition Wael Shawky: Dry Culture Wet Culture features, among others: The Gulf Project Camp and Cabaret Crusades. Both deal with the clash of cultures, the broad theme of migration, and societies in development and change. 

"Wael Shawky's work has been shown in Belgium before, but this is the first exhibition of its size that also includes a number of new productions. In his drawings and wood reliefs, Wael Shawky combines compositions from Western art history with his contemporary perspective. His work fits in with the transhistorical and international framework in which M Leuven presents itself. This unique exhibition appeals to a wide audience", says Denise Vandevoort, alderman of culture and chairwoman of the board of M.

Wael Shawky

Wael Shawky (1971) describes his artistic practice as that of an alchemist: a mediator between social ideas and tangible forms. His work deals with themes such as identity, religion, and history, which can be at the heart of a society in transition.
As a child, Shawky lived in Saudi Arabia for a long time, where he witnessed the transition from a nomadic tribal society to a modernised, more Westernised one. This change left a deep impression on him and led to a fascination as an artist with all aspects of cultures and societies. Shawky compiles the multitude of stories that emerge from this process into overarching art projects in which he addresses social and historical issues in a variety of media: from painting and drawing to sculpture, film and even music.
Throughout his work, Shawky confronts us with the boundaries of our own vision of history and the world. To what extent is our thinking coloured by our background and personal past? Is there such a thing as history, and can it be written without prejudice? And what role does our view of the past play in the development of a culture or national identity?

Press preview: 09.03.2022
- 10h30 reception with coffee and tea
- 11h guided tour of the exhibition with artist Wael Shawky, followed by interview moments (on request)
- 14h end of press preview