2021
Post Fiction: Manama
Curated by William Wells, at Al Riwaq Art Space
The group exhibition included works by Ali Hussain, Hasan Hujairi, Jaffar Al-Oraibi, and Nasser Al-Zayani.
Parallelism traces the subjectivities in mapping Manama by different communities. The work was conceived by approaching the ‘Old Manama’ district with an urban ethnographical lens. Walking around the area with Manama residents, the artist identified distinct narratives that embody different markers of societal belonging or lack thereof. As part of her research, Alnoaimi asked for tours from certain individuals that represented diverse micro-communities in the vicinity.
The participants include an older generation of Bahrainis from Manama, migrant workers, and expats to name a few. Through first-hand anecdotes, historical and sociological analysis, Alnoaimi animates the stories of these communities. By layering their experiences against one another, identifying meeting or departure points, and questioning elements of fact and fiction.