In The Broken Trade Winds, Al Shazly doesn’t just retell the story of empire—she traces the lasting remains of colonialism, showing how its influence still shapes the world today. Her work explores the ongoing effects of destruction, displacement, and control, revealing them as continuous forces rather than events of the past.

Using history as both inspiration and material, she blends archival research with tangible artifacts, uncovering colonial memory. White ceramics—delicate yet enduring—symbolize cultural legacies and their connection to how we remember today. Through this mix of material and memory, Al Shazly brings to light the traces of history that still linger.

UJ Gallery, University of Johannesburg,May-June 2023.