Shirin Fathi

Co-curated with Kathy Cho, Banal was a solo exhibition featuring Moshtari Hilal at Enclave Lab, London which took place over a couple of weeks in November 2018.

Banal was a research based exhibition which explores the aesthetic of everyday life in Kabul and Hamburg, where Moshtari Hilal has spent most of her life with relatives and family members. What seems banal within our everyday lives is a source of inspiration for Hilal, who observes, conceptualises, and creates a visual language. Everyday life, the objects and their arrangement produce familiarity and regularity. Her take on the aesthetic of everyday life is exhibited through drawings, video installations, collages and sketchbooks.

In addition to the exhibition, a panel discussion was organized to contextualize the themes deeply rooted within Hilal’s existing practice: exploring ideas of displacement and complexities of marginalized communities.

The aim of this exhibition was to create a space for consolation and support to encourage a sense of community for members of Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) in Deptford. A private party was specially held for the members of ACAA.