Majd Abdel Hamid’s exhibition, **Daydreamers**, showcases needlework that reflects social and political issues. Featured works include 12-23, focusing on Mohamed Bouazizi, and **Fortune Tellers**, emphasizing open-ended possibilities. The exhibition runs from March 28 to May 25, 2025, at Cell Project Space, London, and promotes slow, meaningful artistry against rapid digital culture.
Majd Abdel Hamid’s exhibition, Daydreamers, running from March 28 to May 25, 2025, at Cell Project Space in London, features a collection of needlework that reflects on social and political moments. This marks Hamid’s first solo exhibition in London, promoting the concept of “textures of memory” through his art. Operating on principles of slowness and repetition, the artworks confront the fast pace of digital culture, favouring labour and emotional depth over efficiency.
A significant work, 12-23 (End of Chapter), started in 2012 with nine embroidered portraits of Mohamed Bouazizi, the catalyst for the Arab Spring. The portraits evolved over time, reducing until only Bouazizi’s name remained sewn onto a pillowcase, illustrating the artist’s journey of grappling with dislocation amidst changing geopolitical environments.
Another new series, Fortune Tellers (2025), consists of 600 origami-like fortune tellers, intentionally left blank. These serve as a symbol of open-ended possibilities, contrasting the pre-ordained outcomes typically associated with such games. Visitors can freely take one during the last two weeks of the exhibition, representing a thoughtful act of sharing in a hyper-optimised city.
By focusing on manual embroidery, Hamid challenges modernist structures of control while integrating Palestinian textile traditions. His dedication to slow artistry stands in stark contrast to algorithmic attentiveness, promoting a qualitative approach to time. The Daydreamers exhibition invites contemplation on the enduring nature of creativity and the subtle sustenance of life through art.
**Daydreamers** is a vital exploration of Majd Abdel Hamid’s artistic evolution, merging political commentary with personal reflection. It highlights the significance of craftsmanship and time in producing meaningful art, while also proposing a shift from the fast-paced demands of contemporary culture toward a more reflective and empathetic practice.
Original Source: www.e-flux.com