Re-appearing Imaginaries

It is time to open your eyes and reflect on the earth beneath your feet, the places you consider home, and the memories you hold dear.

4:00 - 10:00.p.m 

Click here to view the virtual exhibition 

Click here to view (and download) the exhibition catalog. 

11 artists from various backgrounds are brought together to raise awareness about the impact of environmental changes has on societies. On May 10, 2022, Misk Art Institute presents “Re-appearing Imaginaries,” an immersive experience acting as a portal into another realm showcasing how these artists are holding on to precious moments that are present now but are in danger of disappearing. 

"Re-appearing Imaginaries" looks at different artistic methodologies in preserving singular and unique moments in our fast evolving and transformative societies. The socio-geographic changes we are experiencing today are a result of industrious labor, globalization, and the subsequent modernization of our lifestyles. Today, digital advances shift our understanding of what we consider natural with our environments becoming less rural and more urban. This shift from the periphery to the urban inevitably leads to environmental constraints and poses challenges to our natural and cultural climate. It is time to open our eyes and reflect on the earth beneath our feet, the places we consider home and our memories that are in risk of being lost. 

The exhibition raises questions about what it means to slow down, create awareness, and—where needed—call out to preserve and safeguard various traditions and practices. The artists challenge our understanding of home, emphasizing the risk of losing valuable information nature has been providing us for free for millennia as we come to terms that we are nearing a finite expiry date. Our social imaginaries and the lush green garden we dream of owning or sharing one day depend on our skill to preserve and protect. 

Featuring works by Saudi and international artists, "Re-appearing Imaginaries," curated by Samuel Leuenberger and Misk Art Institute assistant curator Nora Saud Algosaibi, is not simply a reimagining of the past, but a caution to hold on to what is precious and in risk of being forgotten. 

The exhibition will be accompanied by three days of panel discussions, workshops, and opportunities to listen and engage with participating artists and the curator of the exhibition. You may find the programming schedule on our Public Programs page.