The Egyptian artist Wael Shawky is a storyteller: historiographical and literary sources form the starting point for his film narratives, in which he interweaves myths, facts, and fiction.

His poetic staging of historical events allows the concealed backgrounds of current thinking to emerge and enables us to think anew about the past and the present.

His new, large-scale video installation is based on his personal experiences in Al Araba Al Madfuna in Upper Egypt where he re-stages with children the story of a local shaman.

Published to accompany the exhibition at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 26 August – 21 October 2012.

English and Arabic text.