Brand New Ancients

Misk Art Institute announces its spring exhibition, Brand New Ancients, curated by Wassan Al-Khudhairi (Independent Curator and co-curator for the 2025 Hawaii Triennial) and Cecilia Ruggeri (Curator, Misk Art Institute).

In her poem, from which this exhibition takes its title, Kae Tempest prompts us to question how we have become detached from our history, when in fact we are inextricably linked to our past, our ancestors, and our cultural history. Her poem and this exhibition tell a never-ending story of creation and surprise, weaving the past with the present through stories passed down in oral and material culture. Brand New Ancients considers the ways tradition and history inform contemporary art practices; how innovation can and does exist within traditional modes of making, rather than being static and archaic. Tradition is often seen as contrary to innovation, but the two are closely linked: without innovation, traditions die, and without tradition, there is nothing to innovate.

Bringing together work by fifteen contemporary artists, the exhibition delves into material culture and its perpetuation within current art practice, as a way of interacting with and building upon the history of objects within the current context. The exhibition includes painting, sculpture, video, photography, and installation—a richly varied selection that demonstrates how artists are currently exploring the permeable boundary between tradition and innovation. The show also aims to highlight contemporary art’s significant role in  innovating and expanding our understanding of today’s world, by using the techniques and traditions of the past. 

Participating artists
Pacita Abad
Hamra Abbas 
Tarek AlGhoussein 
Sophia Al Maria 
Nasser Alsalem
Dana Awartani 
Sarah Brahim
Abraham Cruzvillegas 
Derek Fordjour 
Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige
Lotus Laurie Kang 
Maha Malluh 
Ahmed Mater
Ornaghi & Prestinari
Wardha Shabbir