Alia Ali: In Light of…

20.8. - 1.11.2026

 In Light of… is the first solo exhibition in the Nordic region by internationally acclaimed artist Alia Ali. The immersive presentation unfolds as a rich weave of patterns, symbols, and narratives. The exhibition is organized in cooperation with the Helsinki Festival.

Alia Ali’s works celebrate collectivity, connectivity, and the circulation of ideas across cultures and geographies. A fully upholstered room immerse visitors in the history of and craft traditions of batik. The new body of work Homage presents sculptural garments. Made from French velvet and originally designed for Moroccan royalty, the costumes are inspired by Yemeni ceremonial dress. Ali’s self-created visual language spreads throughout the exhibition spaces. The script appears in gold, silver, and fluorescent pigments that glow under UV light.  

In Ali’s works, pattern, material, and narrative serve as vessels of memory and meaning. By bringing intertwined traditions into view, the artist also gestures toward the shared imagining of possible futures. 

In Light of… brings together textiles, photography, sculpture, wall paintings, and sound installations. The exhibition spaces, bathed in Kunsthalle Helsinki’s natural light, and the gradual fading of daylight as autumn progresses have prompted Ali to explore the impact of light on both the works and the overall exhibition experience. 

 Alia Ali’s practice is informed by Yemeni and Bosnian cultural heritages and shaped by a life lived through movement and displacement. Through sustained research and collaboration with Indigenous communities globally, her multimedia work engages material traditions, cultural memory, and lived histories. Attending to systems of inclusion and exclusion, Ali’s practice reflects an ongoing inquiry into how knowledge circulates across place and time. She is a Jameel Fellow at the Victoria and Albert Museum and a Global Nikon Ambassador. 

In cooperation with: Helsinki Festival

Images:
Alia Ali. Photo: Patrik Rastenberger
Alia Ali, from the series Homage, 2026.
Alia Ali, Flux & Flow, Galerie Peter Sillem, Frankfurt. Exhibition2023 Galerie Peter Sillem