Miu Miu and Alice Diop present Geste de Consolation at Palais d’Iéna
Alice Diop presents Geste de Consolation, a multidisciplinary exhibition commissioned by Miu Miu for Art Basel Paris 2026, at the Palais d’Iéna in Paris. Open from October 21 to 25, the project marks Diop’s first exhibition as an artist-curator, bringing together cinema, photography, sculpture, literature, music, dance and live performance. Developed at the invitation of Miuccia Prada, the installation examines historical representations of Black women and the ways these images continue to influence contemporary visual culture. The exhibition occupies the headquarters of France’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council, a building also used for Miu Miu’s fashion presentations.
The exhibition extends themes introduced in Fragments for Venus, Diop’s 2025 contribution to the Miu Miu Women’s Tales film series. Across four interconnected spaces, Geste de Consolation presents works by women artists whose practices investigate identity, representation, collective memory and cultural histories. The exhibition’s scenography establishes a sequence of encounters in which architectural space becomes part of the storytelling process. Images, performances and objects are arranged to encourage visitors to reconsider both the act of looking and the historical conditions through which representations are produced.
The journey begins with a photograph by South African artist Zanele Muholi, followed by a two-screen video installation created by Diop. Combining archival footage with cinematic excerpts, the work examines the relationship between historical imagery and the filmmaker’s visual perspective. Visitors then enter Chambre à soi, a domestic environment incorporating a public library and a patchwork of richly coloured carpets featuring a motif by American artist Mary Lee Bendolph. The room introduces a more intimate architectural setting within the monumental concrete structure of the Palais d’Iéna.
Beyond the library, the exhibition incorporates an arena for live readings, music and choreography. Literary works by writers including Audre Lorde, Zora Neale Hurston, June Jordan, Marie NDiaye and Zadie Smith are performed throughout the programme. Ivorian choreographer Nadia Beugré presents an adapted version of Prophétique with six dancers, while Chicago-based composer Angel Bat Dawid performs with her ensemble Sistazz of the Nitty-Gritty. These contributions expand the exhibition through different forms of artistic expression, giving the presentation an evolving character over its five-day duration.
The exhibition concludes with Sentinel (Mami Wata), a monumental bronze sculpture by American artist Simone Leigh. Standing nearly five metres tall, the work depicts an elongated female figure encircled by a serpent, drawing on the West African water spirit Mami Wata. Its scale establishes a strong sculptural presence within the installation, connecting mythology, cultural identity and contemporary artistic production. Throughout the exhibition, tiered seating and changes in spatial arrangement encourage different relationships between spectators, artworks and performers.
October 21–25, 2026 – Palais d’Iéna, Paris
All images courtesy of Miu Miu
