A curation by Sarah Melloul, Curator at Independent - This selection explores the concept of "de-Orientalism," positioned as a counterpoint to the Orientalist movement. Where Orientalism exoticized what it perceived as "the Orient," de-Orientalism offers a critical and unconventional perspective. The selected works deconstruct and subvert traditional motifs of these representations, such as pyramids, horsemen, deserts, and hammams, inviting the viewer to question cultural representations and art history. Here, the artists employ a variety of techniques, ranging from sculpture and painting to collage and calligraphy, each medium contributing its own texture and symbolism. The fragmented compositions and chromatic palettes play with space, rhythm, and color, creating tension, repetition, and poetic atmospheres. The series as a whole thus offers a contemporary reinterpretation of Orientalist symbols and invites the viewer to engage in a critical and sensitive reading of these images.