'Wael Shawky: I Am Hymns of the New Temples' at M+, Hong Kong

29 April 2026

From 30 May – 25 Oct 2026, M+ presents 'Wael Shawky: I Am Hymns of the New Temples'.

Wael Shawky’s video work, I Am Hymns of the New Temples (2023), delves into humanity’s beginnings and the construction of national narratives. Set among the ruins of Pompeii, actors wearing handmade ceramic and papier-mâché masks move through the remnants of the city, situated at the ancient crossroads of exchange between Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures. The work reinterprets shared creation myths and theatrical traditions to explore our need to make sense of the world through storytelling, and the way these narratives are adapted and reshaped for national purposes.

Find out more via M+.

Image: Wael Shawky, I am Hymns of the New Temples, 2023, Film, © Wael Shawky; Courtesy Lisson Gallery. Commissioned by Pompeii Archaeological Park as part of Pompeii Commitment.