Wael Shawky in conversation at MOCA, LA, 22 February

13 February 2025

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On 22 February, on the occasion of the U.S. premiere of Wael Shawky’s widely celebrated film installation 'Drama 1882', the artist joins MOCA Associate Curator, Alex Sloane, for a conversation and preview screening.

'Drama 1882' takes the populist Urabi revolution in Egypt against British imperialism (1879-1882) as its foundation, specifically a cafe brawl between a local donkey owner and a Maltese man that unleashed events that precipitated over seventy years of British colonial rule in Egypt. Seamlessly integrating fact, speculation, and fiction, Shawky proposes alternatives to established records. Sung entirely in classical Arabic by professional performers with sensational costumes and against the backdrop of colourful, expressionist sets, Drama 1882 is a spectacular restaging of historical events and further explores Shawky’s interest in historical counter-narratives, ultimately emphasizing the futility of war while probing the implications of drama itself.

Wael Shawky, 'Drama 1882', is organized by Alex Sloane, Associate Curator with Clara Kim, Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs.

Saturday, 22 February 2025, 3pm – 4pm
WAREHOUSE at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 North Central Avenue

Find out more via MOCA.

Image: Wael Shawky, Drama 1882, 2024, 4k video, sound, color, VFX, Arabic, © Wael Shawky, Courtesy of Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Lisson Gallery, Lia Rumma, and Barakat Contemporary