WAEL SHAWKY | Drama 1882 | Solo Show | MCA, Sydney

On Friday 17 April 2026 at 5:30 pm, at Teatro Dal Verme, Anselm Kiefer will take part in a conversation with Natacha Fabbri, historian of science and philosophy, moderated by Gabriella Belli, curator of the exhibition. The artist will reflect on the philosophical and symbolic foundations of his practice in a dialogue that connects ancient knowledge with contemporary perspectives, exploring the intersections between art, science, and the transformation of matter that underpin his work. The event is part of the public programme for *Kiefer. The Alchemists* at Palazzo Reale, Milan. Admission is free, subject to reservation via Eventbrite (from 28 March at 10:00 am). The talk will be held in English with simultaneous translation into Italian. Please note: reservations for the 26 February event are fully booked. If places become available due to cancellations, attendees on the waiting list or without a reservation may be admitted until full capacity is reached. Early arrival is recommended (15 minutes before the start).

• Teatro Dal Verme, Milan
• Via S.Giovanni sul Muro, 2
• 17 aprile 2026

Seeds are the foundation of life: they sustain us, preserve biodiversity and cultural knowledge, and symbolize renewal and change. *Seeds: Reclaiming Roots, Sowing Futures* explores their layered meanings as a reflection of our relationship with the earth and one another. Featuring fourteen international artists, the exhibition approaches seeds from ecological, cultural, and symbolic perspectives, addressing themes such as migration, colonialism, indigenous knowledge, food sovereignty, and collective resilience. Through sculptures, installations, photography, and video, the works connect art, ecology, and activism, reflecting on loss and regeneration while highlighting the political and poetic potential of shared growth. Like seeds themselves, the exhibition unfolds multiple narratives that reveal the complexity of the climate crisis and invite reflection on possible futures.

• KunstHausWien, Vienna
• Untere Weißgerberstraße 13, 1030 Wien, Austria
• 10 aprile 2026 – 14 febbraio 2027

Fondazione Merz, the Museo Egizio in Turin, and the MAH – Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva present "GAZA. The Future Has an Ancient Heart", a major international exhibition that brings archaeology and contemporary art into dialogue to reveal the deep historical and cultural layers of Gaza beyond present-day narratives. The project brings together around eighty artefacts—from the Bronze Age to the Ottoman period—on loan from the MAH on behalf of the State of Palestine and from the Museo Egizio, alongside works by Palestinian and international contemporary artists. The display is enriched by archival photographs from UNRWA. The exhibition reflects on the destruction of cultural heritage and the urgent need to preserve memory, highlighting the universal value of history and identity. A rich public programme of events accompanies the show, involving a network of Italian and international cultural institutions.

• Fondazione Merz, Turin
• Via Limone, 24, Torino TO
• 22 aprile – 27 settembre 2026

A new contemporary art museum is being established in Mantua, built around one of the most important private collections of the twentieth century: the Sonnabend Collection. The collection will be permanently displayed in the historic city centre, within the newly renovated Palazzo della Ragione. Developed through the vision of collector and art dealer Ileana Sonnabend (1914–2007), her husband Michael Sonnabend (1900–2001), and their adopted son Antonio Homem, the Sonnabend Collection stands as a major testament to the key artistic movements of the second half of the twentieth century. Through their galleries in Paris and New York, the Sonnabends played a pivotal role in promoting American art in Europe and introducing European artists to the United States, shaping the international art scene. The project is led by the Municipality of Mantua in partnership with the Sonnabend Collection Foundation and Marsilio Arte, which will oversee the museum’s overall management, including organization, communication, editorial projects, and the coordination of the bookshop.

• Palazzo della Ragione, Mantova
• Piazza Erbe, 13, 46100 Mantova

"Stillness in the Storm", the new collection exhibition at Voorlinden, offers a moment of reflection in a fast-moving world, showing how silence can become a source of strength. Featuring artists such as Anish Kapoor, Marina Abramović, Massimo Bartolini, and Arturo Hernández Alcázar, the exhibition explores stillness as a response to uncertainty. Through a curated selection of works, the show creates a path toward deeper connection—with oneself and others. Highlights include Alcázar’s suspended "Black Kites (Bird of Ill Omen)" and Bartolini’s meditative "Conveyance" (2024), with its rhythmic, wave-like motion. At its core is Abramović’s "Counting the Rice" (2014), where visitors spend time in focused silence counting grains, turning attention and endurance into a shared yet introspective experience. The exhibition invites audiences to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters.

• Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar
• Buurtweg 90, 2244 AG Wassenaar, Paesi Bassi
• 18 novembre 2025 – 17 maggio 2026

History becomes opera in this extraordinary film installation, presented in its Australian premiere at the MCA. "Drama 1882" recounts a pivotal moment in modern Egyptian history, known as the ‘Urabi Revolt (1879–1882). Unfolding in eight scenes, this captivating 45-minute opera stages key events of the uprising that marked the beginning of British colonial rule in the region, offering a striking retelling of history from a local perspective. Directed, choreographed, and composed by Wael Shawky (b. 1971, Alexandria, Egypt), "Drama 1882" features a cast of Egyptian performers singing in classical Arabic.

• MCA, Sydney
• 140 George, St, The Rocks NSW 2000, Australia
• 4 marzo – 29 giugno 2026