The exhibition Strange Familiar/Familiar Strange takes its name from the anthropological phrase “makes the familiar strange and the strange familiar”. To bear the works created in this temporary relocation, one would need to make room for multiple geographies. In each piece the artists carry parts of their own landscapes to Aubervilliers, and Aubervilliers begins to appear in their home; in material, aesthetic or context. Coming from a culture that loves to expand its interiority, focused on community, these works drift with their makers through an unfamiliar urban landscape creating both tension and excitement that delivers work more raw and swift.

It is easy to talk over the silence of unexplored geography, anxious chatter — call your friend, listen to a song, even scroll through your phone; but the interlude can only fulfill its role when you listen and allow a dramatic interruption in your temporary relocation, the human need to find familiar checkpoints, faces and voices. The drift of the outsider tries to fulfill its role: discovery and understanding; the drift of the artists brought fragments of home to Paris, walks that once felt long and unfamiliar become filled with bits of Arabic conversation, familiar nods between shopkeepers, conversations with baristas; passing by rowdy young boys like brothers and buying bread from bakers like aunts. To be in Aubervilliers, Paris, France and find the familiar sounds of Riyadh, Jeddah and Jazan in the interlude, only when we are brave enough to listen and eventually even dance.

With Madhawi AlGwaiz, Leen Ajlan, Reem Al Nasser, Bashaer Hawsawi, and Abeer Sultan
Curator: Tala Saeed

This final exhibition is part of the Intermix Residency POUSH program by the Saudi Visual Arts Commission in collaboration with Manifesto Middle East.

From 4 to 18 december 2024
Opening on wednesday 4 december, 6-9pm
Free registration here
Guided tours of the exhibition: every fridays from 5pm to 7pm and saturdays from 2pm to 7pm
Visits by appointment: contact@poush.fr

Saturday 7 December, 4pm - Illustration workshop A seat at the table with artist Madhawi AlGwaiz
An illustration workshop on still life and the imaginary, giving you the chance to create your own seat at the table.

Saturday 14 December, 3pm - Psychogeography collage workshop with curator Tala Saeed
In this workshop, participants will create their own map of Paris using collages inspired by the concept of psychogeography.

Saturday 14 December, 4pm - Your name as a recipe collage workshop with artist Reem Al Nasser
The artist will invite participants to reflect on the meaning of their names and transform them into symbolic recipes, inspired by the principles of Arabic medical astrology.

The workshops will be given in English.
Free registration