The Barbican in London has opened two new exhibition spaces in a redesigned former restaurant, showcasing the work of Alberto Giacometti alongside contemporary artists Huma Bhabha and Mona Hatoum. Curated by Shanay Jhaveri and Émilie Bouvard, the shows pair Giacometti's sculptures with Bhabha's and Hatoum's works, drawing formal and thematic connections without forcing comparisons. The exhibitions highlight shared preoccupations with the human body, vulnerability, and resilience, while allowing each artist's distinct approach—Giacometti's figuration versus Hatoum's found-object manipulation—to remain clear.
These exhibitions matter because they demonstrate how historical and contemporary art can converse meaningfully without diminishing either. By presenting Giacometti as a living, relevant figure rather than a relic, the shows amplify the emotional and political urgency of all three artists. Hatoum's works, which reflect on Palestinian experience and global inhumanities, resonate powerfully with current events, including the International Association of Genocide Scholars' resolution on Gaza. The Barbican's approach offers a model for curatorial subtlety, where affinities and distinctions coexist, making the art feel immediate and urgent.