A Dance with her Myth

Artists

Mounira Al Solh

Press release

National Participation - Lebanon

Mounira Al Solh’s installation "Dancing With Her Myth" is a multimedia composition encompassing 41 pieces – drawings, paintings, sculptures, embroideries, video – spread over 180 m2 in the Arsenal space. By revisiting the myth of the abduction of Europe, the Lebanese artist reflects on the fate of women, their resilience and their struggle for emancipation through an approach that blends allegorical narrative with documentary practice. This artistic journey begins with the story of Tyre and the Phoenicians, a civilization that, despite its crucial role in the history of writing, remains enigmatic. The work transforms into a plea for women’s liberation, depicting a journey aboard a Phoenician ship symbolizing female emancipation and rebellion against an oppressive patriarchal society. 

In this exploration, Al Solh redefines the myth of Europe’s abduction, not as a tale of domination but as a story of cooperation and emancipation, in which Europe, far from being a mere victim, plays an active role in her destiny. This bold reinterpretation invites an alternative reading of the myth, proposing a discourse on gender equality and the deconstruction of stereotypes.