Combining a range of media—including historical artefacts, speculative narratives and petitions to patrons—Grey Unpleasant Land examines England’s legacy as an institution both fragile and enduring. Through their individual yet interconnected practices, Al-Maria and Ourahmane create a unique lens to explore the complex and often troubling layers of England’s cultural and historical landscape.
This event is followed by a Phia 500 DJ set.
SOPHIA AL-MARIA
Sophia Al-Maria is a London-based artist. Al-Maria has had recent solo exhibitions at Henry Art Gallery, Seattle; Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha; La Biennale di Venezia, Venice; LUMA Arles; Tate Britain, London, and numerous others. She is the author of three books: Sad Sack (Book Works, London, 2019 & 2023), Virgin with a Memory (Cornerhouse Publications, Manchester, 2014), and The Girl Who Fell to Earth (Harper Perennial, New York, 2012).
LYDIA OURAHMANE
Lydia Ourahmane is an artist based in Barcelona, London and Algiers. Ourahmane has had recent solo exhibitions at MACBA, Barcelona, SculptureCentre, New York; rhizome, Algiers; Kunsthalle Basel, Switzerland; S.M.A.K Ghent; Portikus, Frankfurt; De Appel, Amsterdam; Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco and Chisenhale Gallery, London, among others. Her work was included in the 60th La Biennale di Venezia, 15th Gwangju Biennale, 34th Bienal de Sao Pãulo, New Museum Triennale and Manifesta 12.
Image credit: Sophia Al-Maria and Lydia Ourahmane. Courtesy the artists
