‘May god leave us poor’ is the first solo exhibition in the UK by Samir Laghouati- Rashwan, that concludes a year-long research period carried out in Houston during his residency at Villa Albertine. Driving the exhibition is his research into slowness as a potential form of resistance to hyper-productivity and capitalist dynamics, as viewed through through the slab car community and DJ Screw's sound practice in Houston. Slab (slow, loud and bangin’) is a custom car and music practice from Houston which - building on Low Rider culture with the addition of modifications like swangaz (horizontal wire spoke rims) - centres cruising slowly down boulevards blasting music from a scene spearheaded by DJ screw. Yet the culture’s functionality extends beyond its initial foundations, creating a safe space for Black and Hispanic communities to gather with families on a Sunday, a form of resistance against highly policed zones and reclamation of public spaces.

At the centre of the exhibition is Laghouati-Rashwan’s film 'Night on MLK BLVD'. Using footage from nighttime slab car shows in the streets of Houston, he created an experimental film in which the editing draws on the production methods DJ Screw used in his music, such as pitch bending and lowering BPMs, which has come to be known as the chopped and screwed technique. There is an inextricable relationship between the slab community and Houston Rap music, with all of its production intended to be played in the cars. Almost acting as local radio, new tracks first air and circulate through these gatherings, with chilled out, slow but bass-heavy productions being specifically created for these moments.

Bathed in violet light - a colour noted for its calming and healing properties - the space invites you to slow down, accentuated by the ethereal soundscape that envelops the room. In orbit are a series of polaroid photos Laghouati-Rashwan took documenting the slab scene, housed in cassette cases. Highlighting the intimate and immediate nature of the photography process, these works act as personal portals into this often elusive world. The exhibition is a site for experimenting with slowness, a place for sharing and exchange; drifting and daydreaming.