The GEM presented its first contemporary art exhibition, Traces of Egypt, by renowned Egyptian-German interdisciplinary artist Susan Hefuna.

 The exhibition was a celebration of the Egyptian applique tradition, the Khayamiya, which dates back centuries.

The opening of the exhibition saw a panel discussion featuring Susan Hefuna, Venetia Porter, former Curator of Islamic and Contemporary Middle East Art at the British Museum, and South African Architect Sumayya Vally, Founder of the Design Studio Counterspace and Professor of Practice at UCL, London. The panel discussed Susan’s artistic approach, the significance of her use of crafts techniques from Egypt such as Khayamiya, Mashrabiya wood turning, as well as drawing, and its relevance to contemporary art.

The exhibition showcased a series of 28 costumes that pay homage to the Khayamiya tradition, profoundly touching upon the inseparability of art and life in historical and contemporary Egypt.