As part of the MCA’s Mapping the Self exhibition, Barbara Koenen will be creating an Afghan war rug in the atrium of the museum which will reference maps and borders. Koenen makes mixed media sculpture and installations that combine cross-cultural traditions and unconventional materials. From crocheted cosies for hand grenades to recreations of Afghan War Rugs made from loose spices in the spirit of Tibetan Buddhist mandalas, her mixed media work has been exhibited in Europe and the United States. In addition to her art practice, Koenen works as a cultural planner for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.