WORLDS WITHIN

Memory is a force that bends time and space. It is an act of perception, where the past re-enters our present world within the mind's eye. Memory re-envisions and re-composes worlds, dissolving physical boundaries to make way for the inner world. Extending the lens of interiority beyond the self, I invite you to engage Worlds Within.

Chinatown Soup is pleased to present Worlds Within (Landscapes in Memory), an exhibition of paintings by Hana Maatouk, on view through January 26, 2025. Join us for the opening reception on Thursday, January 9, from 6-9 PM, and save the date for an artist talk on Saturday, January 25 (details TBA).

Hana Maatouk, a Saudi-Spanish artist based in New York City, creates paintings that merge dynamic color palettes with anthropomorphic figures, animating abstract dreamscapes. Her work examines contemporary socio-political shifts through the lens of her personal narrative. Inspired by the Arabic concept of Wahdat al Wujud (Oneness of Being), Hana explores the intersection of personal and collective experience, presenting the outer world as a reflection of the self.

During her residency at Soup Studio, Hana undertakes an exploration of her memories, mirroring this process with the layered archaeology of New York City. Contemplating the ancient rock that forms Manhattan’s bedrock, she invites viewers to consider the profound connections between individual histories and the wider cultural landscape.