Following the editions in Medellin, Cucuta and Nairobi, MATZA Edgelands is making its fourth stop to Geneva for its ‘Under the Radar’ exhibition from the 14th - 28th May, located in an ex-post office in Charmilles.
Being an artist here and elsewhere, involvement and responsibility’
Last Tuesday (2 May) the organisers held a public discussion titled, ‘Being an artist here and elsewhere, involvement and responsibility’, and included Zelal Karatas and Besmellah AMIRI, artists and migrants in Geneva, as well as the artists in the exhibition. This open and creative environment with artists and migrants and members of the community, was the perfect space for the artists to share their experiences; setting the tone for the upcoming exhibition.
In this temporary home, artists and migrants contemplated on home, security, a sense of belonging and the role art plays. What is security? When and where do you feel safe? Where is home? Such questions were openly explored ahead of the exhibition.
The exhibition’s residence in a former post office is a testament to this efficient and innovative use of space in a collective and creative environment. Creating this open space allows the artists to publicly reflect on their experiences, resonating with much of the wider community. Their stories, experiences and perspectives were both inspiring and thought-provoking. From fleeing conflict to torture and persecution, the artists openly reflected on what makes one safe or feel a sense of belonging.
“You need to find your branch” an artist advised, to which she continued, almost as an afterthought, “people who don’t have passports, find them in books.”
Other artists highlighted the stereotypes and difficulties they often faced and continue to face. With one identifying the key role art plays in “drawing attention” to the many issues of being forced to leave a home where you grew up.
Some members of the audience expressed similar experiences with one sharing, upon arriving in Switzerland, he felt “like a bird” but now feels the “government is trying to cut my wings.”
As the collective went on to discuss their sense of security and home through the lens of art, its open and transparent dialogue left much room to explore.
Check out the details below for more info!
https://matza.net/under-the-radar/
With the artists:
Tanguy Benoit (FR), Maxime Bondu (FR), Sabrina Fernandez Casas (CH-ESP), Myriam Dalal (LB), Lorca Devanne-Langlais (FR), Félicien Goguet (FR), Zulkifle Mahmod (SG), Shabu Mwangi ( KEN) and Thomas Dworzak (DE) from Magnum (collaboration with Edgelands Institute).
MATZA production: Séverin Guelpa and Anja Wyden Guelpa (co-curators) and Noémie Gambino (project manager).
Charmilles ex post
Rue des Charmilles 23
1203 Geneva
Opening May 12, from 6 p.m.
Exhibition May 12 – 28, 2023
Mon-Fri 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Sat-Sun 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Guided tours:
2.05 – 3pm Turkish, 4pm French
5.05 – 6pm Arabic
21.05 – 3pm French, 4pm Farsi/Dari
24.05 – 6pm Somalian
28.05 – 3pm French, 4pm Tigrigna
Image: Zara Tewolde berhan.
You can see Zara's UX portfolio here.
