The Dark Ages

by Ghada Khunji
An exhibition exploring the distortion of cultural symbols, the tension between faith and perception, and the personal journey of reclaiming identity. 

On view: April 10, 2025 - July 4, 2025
Opening reception: Thursday, April 10th; 6-9 PM

Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture Gallery is pleased to present The Dark Ages, featuring the work of Bahraini visual artist Ghada Khunji. The opening reception will take place on Thursday April 10th from 6 – 9 PM and will be on view until July 3rd, 2025. 

Through photography and mixed media, Khunji’s deeply introspective practice examines identity, perception, and the distortion of cultural symbols in contemporary discourse. Born in Bahrain in 1967, she was raised in a diverse, multicultural environment before continuing her studies in the UK and the U.S. After 25 years abroad, her return to Bahrain prompted a renewed interrogation of faith, media narratives, and personal history. 

In The Dark Ages, Khunji explores how symbols and imagery shape collective consciousness, challenging viewers to reconsider ingrained perceptions. Her self-portraits serve as a reflection of personal and societal constructs, questioning the ways in which fear, familiarity, and bias obscure deeper truths. By deconstructing visual and ideological signifiers, her work seeks to reclaim agency and illuminate the tension between identity and imposed narratives. 

About the Artist

Ghada Khunji is a Bahraini artist whose work spans photography, mixed media, and self-portraiture. A graduate of the Parsons School of Design and the International Center of Photography in New York, she has exhibited internationally and received numerous accolades for her work. Khunji’s practice is rooted in a belief that all art, identity, and expression stem from a singular source: light.