Lisson Gallery in London presents "Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska: Zanzibar," an immersive installation running from June 4 to August 22, 2026. The exhibition features nine diptychs painted by Himid in 1999, paired with a 38-minute multi-layered sound composition by Stawarska created in 2023. The works explore themes of memory, displacement, and belonging, drawing on Himid's birthplace in Zanzibar and her family's migration to London. The installation includes Taraab music, opera, archival BBC clips, and Himid's own voice, creating a multi-dimensional experience that reflects both artists' sense of loss and connection to their native countries.
The exhibition matters because it showcases a rare abstract phase in Himid's career, marking a decisive break from her figurative practice, and highlights the ongoing collaborative partnership between Himid and Stawarska, which is also featured at the British Pavilion of the 2026 Venice Biennale. By blending painting and sound across generations, the installation offers a poignant meditation on how personal and collective histories shape identity, making it a significant contribution to contemporary art discourse on migration and memory.