Gezeigt wird der Film The House von Michael Pilz und Maryam Farhang, AT, 2018/2022, DCP, Farbe, 31min. Farsi/Arabisch.
Begleitet von Fotografien und Text von Maryam Farhang.
Die Ausstellung ist auf Anfrage geöffnet.
Self-portrait of war
I was born, during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988). The 8 years war has been crucial factor shaping my emotional landscape which has impacted my life ever since. Facing war in Middle-East where I live is part of the daily news of the people. What did not leave me during my trip to Europe was hearing the news of the war on the European border every day.
In my observations, I came across a house destroyed over time between the Austrian-Italian-slovenly border, which reminded me memories of the remains of houses destroyed between the Iran-Iraq war. I looked at myself in the mirror at the remains of a beautiful but abandoned house to be destroyed, I was afraid of the frame in front of me, is it a memory of the past or am I standing in the future of my life? A mirror with a patriarchal world structure that gains its power in destruction, death and war!
Maryam Farhang, is a painter and poet based in Tehran. Her interests are in interacting with other artists and different mediums and in teaching as well.
Between 2008 and 2010 one of the most important group exhibitions she took part was Meridian International Centre’s cultural event “Wishes And Dreams: Iran’s New Generation Emerges”, inaugurated in Washington D. C and running for two years throughout different states of the USA. In Tehran she used to work successfully with Afghan people on their creativity.
2020 she curated the virtual and physical exhibition for the International Women’s Day at SOO Contemporary Gallery Teheran and the film “Encounter”, supported by the Austrian Cultural Forum Tehran. 2020 her book “Me and the Persimmon Tree” with 45 paintings and poems from her “Home”-series was published in Austria. 2021 she won the Styria-Artist-in-Residence-Scholarship Graz, Austria. 2022 she was mentor of Erasmus+ and Zagreb University, Graz and Zagreb. 2022 she had solo exhibitions in Schaumbad Graz and Transit-Galerie Graz. 2022 she started her studies at Ortweinschule, Graz, masterclass for painting and sculpture. 2023 her photographs and statement “About War” were published in Ausreisser-Magazin, Graz. 2023 she had two performance in public space with title: Permeable body and Bridge of unchanging courage/ protection of human dignity and freedom. The main concept of her works focuses on femininity and her role as a woman in life and society.
M.F. Graz,May , 2023
