This exhibition brings together two thought-provoking works from the M+ Collection by artists Heri Dono (Indonesian, born 1960) and Wael Shawky (Egyptian, born 1971). Both artists explore how civilisations evolve and intertwine, drawing on enduring traditions such as mythology and folk tales, oral storytelling, and theatre. These forms do not merely connect us to the past—they invite us to imagine alternative futures beyond the relentless drive of economic progress and modernisation.

Wael Shawky’s video work I Am Hymns of the New Temples (2023) delves into humanity’s beginnings and the construction of national narratives. Set among the ruins of Pompeii, actors wearing handmade ceramic and papier-mâché masks move through the remnants of the city, situated at the ancient crossroads of exchange between Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures. The work reinterprets shared creation myths and theatrical traditions to explore our need to make sense of the world through storytelling, and the way these narratives are adapted and reshaped for national purposes.

Heri Dono’s kinetic installation Fermentation of the Mind (1992–1993) resembles a classroom, featuring rows of old wooden desks topped with white fibreglass heads. When activated by a pedal, the heads nod in unison and emit distorted chanting sounds. The work is inspired by Indonesia’s sociopolitical landscape in the early 1990s, particularly the state’s influence on public opinion and independent thought through propaganda. Drawing on the rich Javanese tradition of wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), Dono uses satire to reflect on history, society, and culture.