This guide documents Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska: Plaited Time / Deep Water, an exhibition inspired by Sharjah’s architecture, sounds and proximity to the sea. The presentation marked Himid’s first show in the region, which was developed over several years in collaboration with Stawarska. The latter is renowned for her practice of ‘inner listening’, a collaborative process of listening to cities.

This publication features new commissions that were on view in the exhibition. These include a reimagined iteration of Himid’s series of paintings titled Zanzibar (1999-2023), which is situated within a distinct architecture and sonic installation created by Stawarska, and Sharjah Carts (2023), which pays homage to the city’s historic street vendor stalls. There is also a foreword by Hoor Al Qasimi and an introduction by Omar Kholeif, curator of this exhibition, as well as an interview with Himid and Stawarska by Kholeif. In it, the artists discuss their first encounter, practice and collaboration, in addition to the works featured in the exhibition.