Epic film installations inspired by historical stories make their UK premiere in Edinburgh, in a major solo exhibition from internationally acclaimed artist Wael Shawky.
Artist Wael Shawky poses with his film installation Drama 1882, making its UK premiere at the Talbot Rice Gallery.
Summer celebrations
Egyptian-born Wael Shawky's exhibition at the University of Edinburgh’s Talbot Rice Gallery recalls long-ago events that continue to influence modern culture.
Two epic film productions take centre stage – lavish sets and hand-painted scenery form a backdrop for exquisitely crafted characters to share old histories with direct links to today’s conflicts.
The exhibition is free to visit and forms the centrepiece of the gallery’s 50th anniversary celebrations, from Saturday 28 June to Sunday 29 September 2025.
During August, it is also part of Edinburgh’s summer festival season, presented in association with Edinburgh International Festival within its programme.
It is amazing to show my work in an educational setting at Talbot Rice Gallery, the University of Edinburgh. This context is very important to me and there is a strong connection to history, both in my works, the gallery and in the University itself. Visiting the space gave me a great feeling and I look forward to opening this exhibition in Edinburgh and premiering Drama 1882 in the UK.
Wael Shawky
Artist
Wael Shawky's filmed installation 'Drama 1882' plays inside a gallery space.
Stories retold
At the heart of the exhibition two films use visual storytelling, music and forgotten versions of the past, to consider if a single version of history can ever exist.
Drama 1882, Shawky’s most recent film, which premiered to international acclaim in 2024 at the Venice Biennale, is seen here in the UK for the first time.
Set in Alexandria during the summer of 1882, the film tells the story of the Urabi revolution—a nationalist uprising that led to decades of British control in Egypt.
The piece incorporates operatic elements in a filmed rendition of a musical play, directed, choreographed and composed by the artist in classical Arabic.
With striking set design, original score and live performances filmed in a historic theatre in Alexandria, Drama 1882 explores the complexities of nationalism, colonial legacies and historical memory.
It has been wonderful to work with Wael Shawky and dive deep into his world of historical reckoning, from the Crusades to the drama that led to the British occupation of Egypt. He really is an extraordinary artist with unwavering attention to the finer details of sculpture, painting, tone and texture. We know this exhibition is going to be an absolute feast for the senses and the mind.
Tessa Giblin
Talbot Rice Gallery Director
Wael Shawky poses with his hand-sculptured glass marionette puppets, on display at the Talbot Rice Gallery.
Hand-crafted histories
Taking place 600 years earlier, Shawky’s film trilogy, Cabaret Crusades, uses puppets to retell the story of the medieval Crusades from an Arab perspective.
Using hand-crafted marionettes, he animates a world of shifting power, violence and religious conflict, while challenging Western narratives about the era.
The puppet's delicate movements reflect the ways in which individuals can be manipulated by larger political and ideological forces beyond their control.
We are delighted to be presenting a major solo exhibition of Wael Shawky’s work at Talbot Rice Gallery. He is a remarkable artist and also a visionary educator. In the year that the gallery celebrates its 50th year, it’s the perfect way to honour the Talbot Rice’s foundation in the University of Edinburgh.
Professor Juan Cruz
Principal of Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh
Close-up detail of three of Shawky's intricately crafted hand-blown murano glass puppets.
Beyond film
The exhibition features dozens of Murano glass puppets, alongside drawings, tarmac artworks and a stunning wood relief depicting the siege of Jerusalem.
The show also includes a display of rare books hand‑picked by the artist from the University of Edinburgh’s Islamic and Byzantine collections.
This selection complements and adds depth to the stories told by Shawky through his films and has also been chosen to honour David Talbot Rice.
Talbot Rice was a Byzantine and Islamic Art Historian in whose memory the gallery was named when it opened 50 years ago.
This year’s International Festival theme, The Truth We Seek, revisits stories we’ve been told. Wael Shawky’s exhibition does exactly that — challenging the way history has been written and inviting us to see it from new perspectives. It’s a powerful and thought-provoking show that speaks directly to our times.
Roy Luxford
Creative Director, Edinburgh International Festival
