6. – 15.10.2023
What lingers
Venue:
- Art School Alliance Karolinenstraße 2a, Haus 5, 20357 Hamburg
Web:
- mehr Infos
Open from 2 till 6 pm.
"Nostalgia, as a means of connecting with a bygone past, inevitably encompasses elements of distortion. Since a literal return to the past is unattainable, nostalgia becomes an enduring state of mind—a symbol of 'absence' and 'loss' that can only find presence through memory and the creativity of reconstruction." (Hirsch & Spitzer, 2002).
The migration experienced by Sudanese people since the onset of the war in April 2023 is both forced and undesired. The profound sense of loss and uprooting they experience while transitioning into a new space and time reshapes the way the mind connects objects—whether physical or visual—to their associated narratives of the past.
The process of grieving for a migrant entails engaging with and assimilating these traversing objects until the accompanying emotion of loss subsides. However, in certain instances, particularly those involving forced displacement, mourning can endure. The individual constantly shuttles between time and the notion of returning.
In this group exhibition, the observers are invited to witness the turmoil of movement themselves—both in the physical and mental realms. As the exhibition unfolds, the visuals progressively showcase the diverse ways in which artists employ their tools and memories to anchor themselves in various timelines and spaces, thereby cushioning the impact of exile. The starting point for the evolution of nostalgia is the adage "what has been lost will remain lost". This axiom serves as a pass to return to the present time and space. It's also an appeal for compassion and solidarity—a gentle narration of the space of exile to the migrating individual.
Some of the exhibited artists are still in Sudan's capital Khartoum, others are in Kenya, Egypt, Spain and Saudi Arabia.
With works by: Reem Aljeally, Yasir Algrai, Amna Elhassan, Issam Hafiez, Bakri Jack, Dar Al Naim, Hassan Kamil, Miska Mohmmed, Mohamed Dawod Rex, Aya Sinada, Sannad Sherif & Galal Yousif
Curated by: Larissa-Diana Fuhrmann & Rahiem Shadad.
In cooperation with Goethe-Institut Hamburg, Goethe-Institut in Exile, Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg (HFBK) and Downtown Gallery Khartoum.