While the Coffee Grounds Settle: Stories by Women in the UAE is an exhibition celebrating the diversity of women in the United Arab Emirates through the lens of fluid, inclusive spaces that center cultures of femininity.
Featuring women artists spanning generations and backgrounds, the exhibition examines traditionally feminine spaces as venues for social exchange, as well as for women's leadership and togetherness. Such spaces foster a sense of community through the construction of common interests and shared values, and help document the evolution of women's power and narratives throughout time.
The living room as a vessel takes center stage throughout the exhibition. It is a space of liberation and exchange that organically preserves oral histories, passing on narratives of culture and society. The living room, the Majlis, and other spaces of this kind have their own nuanced cues, codes and hierarchies to maintain structure and clear communication — however, they are almost always colored with humor and allow space for curiosity, new ideas and fresh voices.
This exhibition highlights interior spaces that witness generational initiations directly impacting the authorship of women throughout history.
