Evaporating Suns - Contemporary Myths from the Arabian Gulf

Evaporating Suns explores myths from the Arabian Gulfthrough contemporary art. Based on the concept that themythical and the factual are like two sides of the samecoin, the catalogue accompanying the exhibition showsthat myths do not simply convey fictions, but are alsocapable of presenting truth much more vividly than statisticsand facts ever could. The publication showcases thework of 13 contemporary artists from the Arabian peninsula,who explore the folklore and popular myths of theirhomelands, and use cynicism, satire, and fiction to buildtheir universes and rewrite the parallel history of theircontemporary societies. Completed by essays by authorsfrom the region, myths are seen here as opportunitiesfor a new approach to the negotiation of current issuessuch as the environment, gender, and social structures ofpower.

Founded in 2018 by the artist Sibylle Piermattei-Geiger and herhusband Rocco Piermattei, KULTURSTIFTUNG BASEL H. GEIGER IKBH.G creates a cultural program with current political or culturalreferences. The Basel exhibition space hosts three topicalart exhibitions a year, each of which goes beyond the conceptsof established institutions.