Wael Shawky: Cabaret Crusades

Egyptian multimedia artist Wael Shawky (born 1971) made a stir at Documenta 13 in 2012 with his elaborately produced epic marionette film trilogy Cabaret Crusades, which blends fiction and fact in an entirely unique coverage of the medieval crusades. Basing his work on extensive research and accounts from primary sources, the artist complicates the traditional clash of civilization narrative by depicting scenes that refute common notions of the era. Reenacting the events of the 11th and 12th centuries in a manner both childlike and chilling, Shawky's handmade puppets highlight the secular motivations of the European fighters and the competition and violence among Arab leaders.
This catalogue, published to accompany Shawky's exhibition at the K20, extensively documents the creative process behind the acclaimed film trilogy, exploring the ways in which Shawky's work--dramatic, cynical and surreal--employs a historical lens to probe and problematize contemporary culture.