Jerusalem-born artist Mirna Bamieh is presenting her exhibition titled ‘Sour Things’. This exhibition marks the inaugural season of a new art research project called ‘Lightless Fires’, organized by the Shanghai New ICA and set to run from 2024 to 2026. ‘Lightless Fires’ uses fermentation as a metaphor and method to delve into collective memory, spontaneous archiving, and the writing of history.
In ‘Sour Things’, Bamieh has integrated text, ceramics, painting, sound, and images into interactive installations that are specific to their locations. These installations reflect on the process of fermentation, with scenes set in markets, kitchens, and storage rooms, and plans to expand into other living spaces in the future. Through various scenes of family life, Bamieh responds to the specific socio-political situations in Palestine, which have also led to her own displacement.
The ongoing creation of ‘Sour Things’ prompts Bamieh to continuously ask: Can and how should one preserve (food and/or history) in a state of transition, between here and there? It is a question that challenges the idea that people need to settle in one place to ferment and pickle, suggesting that perhaps preservation can occur anywhere.
The exhibition will be open from September 19th to December 21st, with specific business hours subject to the conditions of the day.
