Ilham Alshahab talks about her recent body of work, “A Path Carved By My Returning”, and how it was inspired by her cycling route. She reflects on her process of crafting worlds inspired by observations of the natural world.
The Dia Space is pleased to present Ilham Alshahab (b. 1998), a visual artist working across illustration, moving image and material-based practices. Her work explores memory, imagination and the significance of everyday moments.
Her new series emerges from her cycling route around her neighbourhood, and how her repeated journey along this route began to sharpen her attention towards what often sat in her peripheral vision. On view from 2 May - 31 July 2026
ways to expand time:
count the tiles, pick a favorite colour and stare when you find it in your surroundings, take a deep breath each time you feel a breeze against your hair, look for the birds each time you hear them sing
sounds smells colours textures aplenty. I love you cairo! I don’t know if it’s the cold air (aka i can layer as much as I want) or the food (so! Much! Lamb! And tea!) or the classic cars (so satisfying to look at…) or the warm-toned cityscape..it’s all so beautiful 🫖 i wonder if I’m seeing some of the same things my jiddi saw when he was a student here many years ago ☁️
moping on a park bench with my shoddy spotted kite because i made it 2 hours before leaving home and i couldn’t fly it
ironically i felt like the pilot in the little prince! Unable to take flight!
