A Prologue to the Past and Present State of Things

This major group exhibition explores performance as a form of recording and re-writing history. It presents a constellation of key performative works, photographs, video documentation and archival materials from the last three decades. The thematic connections cross the Arab region but relate to global politics, economics and cultural shifts. The selected artworks can therefore be understood as a preface, consequence or echo of major developments during this period.  

Participants include Doa Aly, ARC:HIVE, Marwa Arsanios, Coco Fusco, Mona Hatoum, Sharon Hayes, Emily Jacir, Mohammed Kazem, Xiao Lu, Hassan Sharif, Wael Shawky, Sharif Waked, and Lin Yilin, amongst others

A Prologue to the Past and Present State of Things is curated by Aaron Cezar, Director, Delfina Foundation with contributions from Ala' Younis and Barrak Alzaid (curatorial fellows, Staging Histories) and Jane Scarth, Residency and Projects Manager, Delfina Foundation.

Co-commissioned by Delfina Foundation and Shubbak with the support of British Council, Video Data Bank, and Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde.


An online catalogue for both exhibitions is being produced in collaboration with Ibraaz Platform 009, which addresses the genealogies of performance art in North Africa and the Middle East. The e-readers include contributions from those involved in the project as well as Anthony Downey, Rayya Badran, Dr. Alexandra MacGilp, and Bassam Sulayman, amongst others.

Staging Histories is largely funded through Art Basel Crowdfunding Initiative. Additional residency support was provided by A. M. Qattan Foundation and Delfina's family of individual supporters.