The work of Dina Danish is currently on show at the ever excellent Museum Rijswijk. The way she works is fascinating. Choosing a base of exquisite woven traditional tapestries, her figures are stitched onto these by Egyptian makers of elaborate tents – all of them men. Born in Cairo, Danish’s background of course plays a large part in how she presents her work. Her images are strong and clear and beautiful. There is much serious thought on her work, but also humour as in the first work of hers I saw was in a previous exhibition, depicting Penny Mordaunt carrying the sword at the coronation of King Charles III with the amusing title I had to take two paracetamols to carry the sword.
The central work of headless politicians in identical suits holding hands commemorates an extraordinary event – the exceptional meeting of Arab leaders in Israel, something never seen before. A similar large work displaying a pyramid of judges, also headless, seems to signal a power structure through dress. The absence of the head seems ambiguous – are the delegates at the signing of accords and conventions choosing to abdicate their own identity/personality/interests?
Protocol and the repetition of identical elements fascinate Danish, not just with politicians. Mirroring colleagues or superiors in a political setting has long been the custom. Not only in politics – from schools choosing uniforms to signal ‘we are one’ to Trump supporters turning up at his trials sporting blue suits and extra long red ties.
Danish’s work strikes me as very timely in the tense current political situation where many are desperate to reach some sort of accord to stop the wholesale destruction of Ukraine and its people.
Museum Rijswijk website has posted an excellent video of Dina Danish explaining how she works. The exhibition and the video are not to be missed.
To accompany Dina Danish’s work Museum Rijswijk supplements the exhibition from significant documents, such as the Peace of Rijswijk of 1697, in which protocols played a very important role. Astrid BURCHARDT 20th March 2025
Dina Danish’s Protocols and Other Formal Agreements continues at Museum Rijswijk until 8th June
