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The Lebanese Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2024, presented under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and organized by the Lebanese Visual Art Association (LVAA), offers a multidimensional and artistic exploration through Mounira Al Solh’s installation Dancing With Her Myth. This work interrogates ancestral myths and their contemporary resonances in an effort to redefine narratives of gender and power.
A press conference at the National Museum of Beirut unveiled the details of this notable participation, attended by caretaker Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar, writer and journalist Roni Alpha representing caretaker Minister of Culture Judge Mohammad Wissam Mortada, as well as prominent figures from the Lebanese artistic and cultural scene. Nada Ghandour, commissioner and curator, emphasized the importance of this pavilion in the current context, considering it a testament to the perseverance, hope and vitality of the Lebanese artistic scene on the international stage.
Mounira Al Solh’s installation, Dancing With Her Myth, is a multimedia composition encompassing 41 pieces – drawings, paintings, sculptures, embroideries, video – spread over 180 m2 in the Arsenal space. By revisiting the myth of the abduction of Europe, the Lebanese artist reflects on the fate of women, their resilience and their struggle for emancipation through an approach that blends allegorical narrative with documentary practice.
This artistic journey begins with the story of Tyre and the Phoenicians, a civilization that, despite its crucial role in the history of writing, remains enigmatic. The work transforms into a plea for women’s liberation, depicting a journey aboard a Phoenician ship symbolizing female emancipation and rebellion against an oppressive patriarchal society.
In this exploration, Al Solh redefines the myth of Europe’s abduction, not as a tale of domination but as a story of cooperation and emancipation, in which Europe, far from being a mere victim, plays an active role in her destiny. This bold reinterpretation invites an alternative reading of the myth, proposing a discourse on gender equality and the deconstruction of stereotypes.
The scenography, designed by architect Karim Bekdache, facilitates the total immersion of the visitor in the artist’s universe. Without rearranging or partitioning the space, it leads the spectator through a winding path evoking a wooden pontoon, symbolically connecting land to sea, and painted in the blue-gray tones of the sea and sky of Tyre. This architectural approach supports the work’s engagement with its audience, facilitating a wandering experience wherein the interaction between the works and the visitor becomes central.
The installation positions itself as a space for dialogue between the past and the present, between myth and contemporary reality, where archetypal figures of Phoenician culture and mythology are revisited with humor and critique. The presence of the boat, an unfinished structure at the center of the exhibition, symbolizes a journey of emancipation and gender equality that remains ongoing, thus highlighting the relevance and urgency of the issues raised by the artist.
Dancing with Her Myth is an invitation to reconsider foundational narratives and their impact on our understanding of gender roles and power in contemporary society. Through her work, Mounira Al Solh offers a unique perspective on the ability of art to question, subvert and transform our relationship to the world and ourselves.
