Wael Shawky

Wael Shawky is a visionary artist whose captivating work delves into the intersections of religious and artistic identity. Through the mediums of film, performance, and storytelling, Shawky seamlessly blends contemporary culture with historical tradition. Shawky’s acclaimed trilogy of puppets and marionettes, “Cabaret Crusades: The Horror Show Files,” vividly recreates medieval clashes, while his three-part film, “Al Araba Al Madfuna,” uses child actors to recount poetic myths, paying sincere homage to important narratives of the past. In 2010, he founded MASS Alexandria, an educational space that further exemplifies his commitment to fostering artistic exploration and understanding. In this episode, Shawky and Abdul-Rehman talk about the use of marionettes in his work, the malleability of history, and a recent project he worked on, titled “Desert: X”.