Lydia Ourahmane: 5 Works

“5 Works” is a solo exhibition by Lydia Ourahmane, curated by Polly Staple, featuring new commissions developed during a residency in Venice. The project explores landscapes of displacement and community, examining how state restrictions and invisible barriers influence the movement of people and objects. A central premise of the exhibition is the local production of the artworks, created in collaboration with Venetian craftspeople, technicians, and organisations such as Poveglia per tutti, Bancolotto No. 10, and LSG. These partnerships highlight a thriving local community as an alternative to the image of a city in decline.

The exhibition combines visceral media, including antique sculpture moulds, church lighting, and decommissioned bed linen, with conceptual gestures like the recontextualisation of found objects. Several works result from negotiations with historic sites and activist associations. The island of Poveglia serves as a significant influence; a central commissioned work is a fully functioning pier designed to be transferred to the island to enable public access. Ourahmane’s practice focuses on the politics of daily life and the processes of art production, distribution, and display. The exhibition questions the role of art in the present moment and where it intersects with reality, presenting matter that is constantly negotiating its own terms.