The Iraqi Equation
Tina Kesting
Since the 1950s, the Arab–especially Iraqi–culture is a culture of exile, a culture of increasing diaspora, and a culture of suppressed artistic life. News and images from Iraq since the beginning of the Gulf War arrive in our Western countries in extremely simplified forms. They portray the very complex political, cultural and social situation as we are allowed to view it, although not exactly as it appears in reality. The censored images do not show what kind of poverty families have to live in. They do not portray killing scenes, sickness and brutalities. Women and children, especially, have to handle unbearable problems and can hardly manage their difficult lives.
Artists have not ignored the cruel conditions in which the Iraqi people have to live. Throughout the exhibition "Contemporary Arab Representations: the Iraqi Equation," 22 artists present an unusually realistic portrait of the Iraqi culture marked by troubles. Using documentary films, features, video portraits, photography, books and magazines, as well as several lectures and debates, these artists gather to underline many aspects of crisis.
"Contemporary Arab Representations. The Iraqi Equation" is an internationally established and working platform that offers artists, writers, directors, poets, photographers, experts and critics the possibility to present their view about the actual political and social situation in Iraq. The "Iraqi Equation" is curated by Catherine David, of "documenta X" fame.
The exhibition, which runs through February 2006 at KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin, is the continuation of the first station of this platform, a conference at Universidad Internacional de Andalucía-UNIA arteypensamiento in November 2005. The exhibit presents works that are ironic and realistic, comic and reflective, provoking us to think about the politically disastrous situation in Iraq in a critical way, as well as nudging us to reflect on our own life and great fortune.
From April through July 2006 the exhibition will move back to Spain and will be shown at Fundacio Antoni Tápies, Barcelona.
