ayman kaake

Misbaḥa / The Prayer Beads / مسبحة , Solo Exhibition, Counihan Gallery, 2025

Misbaḥa / The Prayer Beads / مسبحة is a visual exploration of identity and a reflection of experiences within a patriarchal environment in the SWANA region. The work examines the weight of societal expectations and the constraints imposed on Queer individuals. Through immersive sculpture, moving images, sound, and an interactive community-based stitching workshop with Safa El Samad, the project builds a layered experience. By using prayer beads as a symbol of concealing one’s true identity, Kaake highlights the pressures to conform to societal norms surrounding marriage, children, and the preservation of family names, posing the question: how far must a Queer person go to align with social, political, and cultural expectations in order to survive?

Commisioned by Counihan Gallery.

Click here to read the full Exhibition Essay written by Celine Saoud for Memo Magazine.