ongoing
residency
30/08 – 13/09/2026
As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Tunisian art space La Boîte, the artist Souad Mani will come to Vienna for residency. During her stay in Vienna, she will present a new body of work. In collaboration with Vienna-based Emily Sarsam, they reflect on practices of commoning in the south of Tunisia, in connection with industrial extraction projects in the region and present the philomena+ project statement for this year’s Parallel Vienna.
recent
collective ritual
Wednesday, 02/09/2026, 4 pm
As part of their project Savage Roses الورود البرية, artists Souad Mani and Emily Sarsam invite to a unique gathering at philomena+, inspired by the Tunisian ritual of Khollita—a communal rain summoning ritual practiced by women and children, involving cooking, songs, and prayers. While sharing stories about community rituals, participants create together a woolen textile piece using the technique of needle felting.
upcoming
project statement
09/09 – 14/09/2026
For this year’s philomena+ project statement Souad Mani & Emily Sarsam present the exhibition Savage Roses الورود البرية. They examine the impact of large-scale extraction projects in southern Tunisia on vernacular agricultural practices. Through an installation of textile works and video, the artists bring collective practices to life, whilst simultaneously drawing parallels with the romanticised floral names of the gas and oil extraction facilities in the region of Tataouine.
