Continues an expansive research path that interrogates the anthropological significance of seashells, transcending their aesthetic image and presenting them as a symbol of protection and strength. The project stems from a fundamental inquiry into the essence of value and how a simple material can depart its coastal environment to settle at the heart of complex economic and social systems, transforming the living organism from its biological stillness into a symbol of wealth and an instrument of hegemony. It was evidence of luxury and adventure in distant seas and unknown trade routes.
Through various media blending drawing, sculpture, installation, and video, Magraby excavates the history of the cowrie as one of the most resilient currencies until the mid-19th century, thanks to a physical structure that defied forgery.
Join us at the opening on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art The exhibition runs until Monday, May 25th, 2026. Daily except Fridays, from 11 AM to 8 PM.
