Sounding the Interior at Kunsthaus Baselland: A Dialogue on Memory and Space in Basel
Contemporary art institution Kunsthaus Baselland presents Sounding the Interior, a compelling two-person exhibition featuring new and recent works by painters Tamara Al-Samerraei and Mireille Blanc. Running through May 3, 2026, the presentation brings together distinct artistic voices from Beirut and Paris to explore how domestic spaces, everyday objects, and private recollections can be translated into large- and small-scale paintings. Curated by Ines Goldbach, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the domestic interior not merely as a retreat from the world, but as a site for deep contemplation, resilience, and emotional resonance.
Exploring Memory and the Domestic Sphere
Visitors stepping into the galleries will encounter works that use photography as a starting point before transforming fleeting moments into tactile, heavily pigmented canvases. Tamara Al-Samerraei (born 1977, based in Beirut) draws heavily on personal archives, lost studios, and domestic fragments. Her layered paintings often incorporate photographs of her own prior works, mapping out a visual diary of spaces left behind due to political turbulence, conflict, and displacement in Lebanon.
In dialogue with Al-Samerraei's work, Mireille Blanc (born 1985, based in Paris) focuses on the subtle poetics of everyday remnants—such as a discarded clementine peel, a worn slogan T-shirt, or the aftermath of a celebration. Blanc employs thick oil pigments to slow down the viewer's gaze, creating canvases that oscillate between monumental scale and near-sighted intimacy. Together, both artists ask a timely question: how can we think, feel, and project outward from within the safety and vulnerability of our private surroundings?
Visitor Information and Public Programs
For those planning a visit to the Dreispitz district, Kunsthaus Baselland offers a rich accompanying program of guided tours, matinees, and family events throughout the run of the exhibition. Visitors can take advantage of weekly highlights such as Sunday matinees with midday guided tours, lunchtime gallery talks, and interactive workshops.
To plan your visit, check current opening hours, or discover more contemporary art spaces across the city, explore further resources on Musemap (musemap.art). You can easily browse upcoming exhibitions or use the museum search tool to find more cultural highlights in Basel.
