Madrasat ‘Athina, Maïmouna Guerresi’s new project for the Italian Cultural Institute of Dakar, reinterprets Raphael’s School of Athens by placing Muslim women at the center of a renewed intellectual tradition. Blending Renaissance references with Islamic architecture, African spiritual symbolism, and visual motifs of learning, Guerresi proposes a contemporary perspective that foregrounds feminine knowledge and the educational heritage of African and Muslim cultures.
The exhibition presents photographs, new large-scale works, and the video La Création du Monde, shaping a symbolic “Madrasa of Athens” where figures such as Hypatia of Alexandria emerge as central presences. Under a pointed Islamic arch, students applaud a new center of learning, honoring the women who have carried and transmitted wisdom across generations. Through this project, Guerresi creates a space of encounter between cultures and eras, imagining a more inclusive and expansive future for knowledge.
Curated by Caterina Riva
Exhibition Dates: November 29, 2025 - January 31, 2026
Décembre 5, 2025
