bremen
"Nobody is an island " group show in public spaces ; and "GAK - gesellschaft für aktuelle kunst " - one person show, nov. 03 >>
In Bremen, I am invited to an exhibition entitled: "nobody is an island." For this group exhibition in public spaces I would like to apply the Iraq Dialog works directly on the walls. We were able and gain the confidence of Binan Finjan and Ahmet Baban, both Iraqis who emigrated to Germany, living in Bremen. They both collaborated with me for this work and replied to the logos and titles of TV news regarding the Iraq crisis. The work started early 2003 before the war occured and was carried on after fighting activities were officially declared closed. More information onf Mister Finjan and Mister Baban will soon added.
Working in public space is less easy than anticipated. Private property owners have all rejected our initiatives. Even installling these works in public space wasn't easy. By the time of the openingwe were able to only put up 4 pieces.
GAK - INSTALLATION VIEW - A FOLLOW UP EXHIBITION
texts: (German) Verfeinerte Informationen - Versteinerte Politik / (English) Refined Information and Petrified Politics, 2003
Interviews with Iraqi Dialog Partners: Finjan Binan and Ahmet Baban
drawings - UND WAS DENKEN SIE / AND WHAT DO YOU THINK - Bremen
click image to download 3.2 mb high resolution image
Rainer Ganahl
IRAQ DIALOG WITH AHMET BABAN, BAGHDAD FIREFIGHT, HEAVY BOMBING, BREAKING NEWS ... , 2003
Arabic text: Ahmet Baban, Calligraphy: Amer Abass, computer assisted; graphics: Bremen painting team
Production: Niemand ist eine Insel, Bremen
size: 250 cm x 190 cm x 3 cm, ceramic tiles painted and fired (old - 10 x10 cm)
Translation by Binan Finjan: NO, NO to terror, yes to security
Ahmad Baban was born in Mosel. He emigrated to Bremen in 1982 because of war. He is part of the group of Iraqi Kurdish people. He is a social worker.
installation view in Bremen
below: detail
please, click to download hi res image:
Rainer Ganahl
IRAQ DIALOG WITH BINAN FINJAN, LOOTERS TARGET IRAQI HOSPITALS, AMERICAN STYLE JUSTICE, COMLETE COVERAGE..., 2003
Arabic text: Binan Finjan, Calligraphy: Amer Abass, computer assisted; graphics: Bremen painting team
Production: Niemand ist eine Insel, Bremen
size: tiles : 190 cm x 260cm; 10 x 10 cm (old)
Translation by Binan Finjan: If the Americans had guarded the buldings as well as they secured the oil fields, lootings hadn't happen.
Binan Finjan is living in Bremen and is a business men. I arrived to Germany in 1992 under adventurous condition. He belongs to the Christian minority of the Mandaeer. Memebers of his family have been victimized by the Saddam Hussein regime. An oncle was killed because of political resistance.
click image to download hi res image
Rainer Ganahl
IRAQ DIALOG WITH AHMAD BABAN, WAR ON TERROR, AMERICAN AT WAR ..., 2003
Arabic text: Ahmad Baban, Calligraphy: Amer Abass, computer assisted; graphics: Bremen painting team
Production: Niemand ist eine Insel, Bremen
size: tiles : 190 cm x 260cm; 10 x 10 cm (old)
Translation by Amer Abass: In the end, what will bring the throwing of stones (intifadha) and what will bring the shortage of medicine and milk for children?
drawings - UND WAS DENKEN SIE / AND WHAT DO YOU THINK - Bremen
GAK - INSTALLATION VIEW - A FOLLOW UP EXHIBITION
texts: (German) Verfeinerte Informationen - Versteinerte Politik / (English) Refined Information and Petrified Politics, 2003
Interviews with Iraqi Dialog Partners: Finjan Binan and Ahmet Baban