“Imagine A Palm Tree” by Navine G. Khan-Dossos

Since arriving in Athens in September 2015, Navine G. Khan-Dossos has heard a curious story, told and retold in different ways. It is about the removal of the palm trees from the urban landscape of Athens as a way of visually “re-orientating” the city towards Europe rather than the ‘Orient’.

“Imagine a Palm Tree” is a performance of painting open for visitors of the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art to watch and interact with. This performance has led to the creation of a floor-to-ceiling mural on the top floor of the museum, and to a series of relevant events.

Navine G. Khan-Dossos (b. 1982) is a visual artist, based in Athens. One of the preoccupations of her practice is the complex relationship between Islam and the West. Khan-Dossos approach to her research is rooted in a traditionally ‘western’ history of art education, whilst her painting is based on a rigorous training in the philosophy and crafts of Islamic art. Her interests include Orientalism in the digital realm, geometry as information and decoration, image calibration, and aniconism in contemporary culture.

Info:
Duration: 14/04/2016 – 25/09/2016
Benaki Museum-Kerameikos Building Complex, 22 Ag. Asomaton & 12 Dipilou St.
Working Days/Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 11:00 – 19:00

SOURCE/PHOTO: Benaki Museum