Galleria d’Arte Moderna Milano (GAM), the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, New York, and UBS will present a major exhibition of contemporay art from the Middle East and North Africa in Milan, Italy.

'But a Storm Is Blowing from Paradise: Contemporary Art of the Middle East and North Africa' will run from April 11 through June 17, 2018 at Galleria d’Arte Moderna Milano.

The exhibition marks the final installation of the Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative, a distinctive, multi-year programme that underscores a mutual commitment by the Guggenheim and UBS to support contemporary art and education through a total of eight international exhibitions, more than 125 acquisitions, curatorial scholarship from three global regions, and extensive public programming.

'But a Storm Is Blowing from Paradise' was first shown at the Guggenheim Museum in April 2016.

“At a critical time in history, we hope these works will inspire reflection and spark discussion about the world we share,” said Richard Armstrong, Director, Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation and Museum.

“Together with our colleagues at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna Milano and UBS, we look forward to introducing this collection of artwork from the Middle East and North Africa to audiences in Europe. As this Milan presentation represents the culmination of the MAP series of exhibitions, we also celebrate the artworks collected, relationships fostered, and ideas articulated during the project’s five years that continue to ripple outward thanks to MAP’s unprecedented scope, scale, and ambition. We remain grateful to our visionary collaborator UBS and to our colleagues at partner institutions around the globe, including our friends at GAM."

“The Middle East and North Africa are at the centre of sweeping global change and are currently addressing some of today’s most critical issues,” said Fabio Innocenzi, Country Head Italy, UBS Europe SE. “We are proud to be able to help bring this exhibition to the Galleria d’Arte Moderna Milano so that our clients, employees, and the public can participate in the dynamic creative community of the arts, much as we facilitate our clients’ informed involvement in the complex global economy. This is a further step in the collaboration with GAM, to which UBS in Italy has contributed ongoing support of restorations and exhibitions. But it is also a testament to the ongoing impact of the MAP Global Art Initiative developed by UBS and the Guggenheim.”

Organized by Sara Raza, Guggenheim UBS MAP Curator, Middle East and North Africa, in collaboration with Zatti and Omar Cucciniello, Curator, Galleria d’Arte Moderna, 'But a Storm Is Blowing from Paradise' features a diverse range of artistic voices and critical concerns from a rapidly evolving region and its international diaspora.

Works by 13 artists explore the intersecting themes of migration, displacement, architecture, geometry, and history through mediums including works on paper, installation, photography, sculpture, and video.

The presentation at GAM will include public events and educational programs for visitors, students, and families. The exhibition features the works of the following artists: Lida Abdul, Abbas Akhavan, Kader Attia, Ergin Çavusoglu, Ali Cherri, Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, Rokni Haerizadeh, Susan Hefuna, Iman Issa, Gülsün Karamustafa, Hassan Khan, and Ahmed Mater.