2025, TRACES OF A FRAGILE MEMORY, ZICO HOUSE

Artist: Nathalie Rey

The Panoptikum project, a multidisciplinary initiative curated by Ayça Okay and created by Nathalie Rey, will launch its Lebanese segment with the exhibition Traces of a Fragile Memory – Prelude to the Panoptikum Project. The exhibition, opening in ZICO House Beirut, Lebanon, will present a carefully chosen selection of videos showcasing Pink Bunny’s previous performances alongside newer works.

Before the exhibition, the main focus of the project was a short film that captured Pink Bunny’s journey. Filming started in Istanbul in September 2024, moved to Spain in January 2025, and will be wrapped up in Beirut in May 2025. The final part of the filming will highlight locations with profound historical importance, including abandoned orphanages, sites where stray dogs were deported, cemeteries, and landfills, exploring themes of collective memory and historical trauma.

The Panoptikum project is inspired by the philosophical concepts of Michel Foucault’s Panopticon, linked to the dynamics of surveillance and control in modern society, and also draws on Karl Valentin’s Dadaist museum, Panoptikum. This surreal space, where his eccentric mind, absurd humor, and playful linguistic deconstructions took material form, embodied a fusion of grotesque, irony, and social critique—resonating with the project's exploration of marginalization and exclusion.

The Panoptikum project is supported by a range of prestigious institutions across Spain, Turkey, France, Germany, and Lebanon. The project will continue to evolve in response to each hosting location, fostering collaborations with local collectives and communities to ensure a dynamic, site-specific experience.

The curatorial team, consisting of architect and curatorial assistant Simay Karadoğan, founder of Lynn Modallal Gallery and curator Lynn Modallal, and interior architect Rabih Ammoury of Ammoury Casa, will serve as the official accommodation sponsor for the Panoptikum project. Renowned for his unique design vision and attention to detail, Ammoury’s involvement will ensure the provision of comfortable and inspiring spaces for the project’s team and collaborators. This partnership highlights Ammoury Casa’s dedication to supporting the arts and promoting a creative, collaborative environment.

The Traces of a Fragile Memory exhibition in Beirut invites visitors to engage with the interplay of history, memory, and identity, reflecting on Beirut’s complex past and the fragility of human experience. The exhibition will offer an opportunity to witness Pink Bunny’s evolving journey and its exploration of memory, space, and survival.