Leena Kheir: 'She is a Country' at Homestead Gallery

Overview

She is a Country, an exhibition created by Leena Kheir, is coming to Homestead Gallery from Friday, December 15–Saturday, February 24.

The exhibition explores the significance of the Sudanese toub, a traditional dress for Sudanese women that covers the head and neck and is typically four to seven metres long. Kheir uses paint and pastel to represent the Sudanese women's strong connection to family as well as capturing what this piece of clothing means on a personal and societal level.

Kheir's work touches on the use of toub as a political statement, referencing the Sudanese Revolution in 2019, of which women made up a large segment of the protestors. Images of Sudanese women wearing sparkling white toubs while protesting against those in power went viral and were seen by people all over the world.

There are two events taking place at the Homestead Gallery during the exhibition's run, including the opening on Friday, December 15, and a Book Club hosted by Kheir herself. At this event on Saturday, February 3, Kheir will share poems that acted as inspiration for her while creating She is Aa Country.

The Homestead Gallery is open every day from 10–4pm, except public holidays. It can be found at Henderson's Corban Estate Arts Centre, which sits on landed previously home to Corban's Winery. The Corban Estate Arts Centre is a pillar for Auckland's creative community, boasting over 20 artist studios as well as the Homestead Galleries, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023.