On this evening, questions were discussed around the topic of photography and flight. Photography takes on various functions and forms of expression in art as well as in journalism. As a tool for documentation, representation or even provocation, it shapes the visual perception and memory of certain events. It depicts realities, but also constructs them. Critical photography deals in particular with the role and the voices of the photographers. Who takes pictures? Who or what is represented? And in what context are the pictures presented? The discussion revolved around the impact of portrayals on the issue of escape and the responsibility one bears as a photographer and publisher.
The participants were Nermin Ismail (journalist and author, editor at Deutsche Welle in Bonn), Natalia Hecht (artist and psychologist, Brunnenpassage), Ammar Alabd Alhamid (participant in the photography workshops Living Realities, Changing Perceptions, studied communication sciences, worked at film and television), Florian Rainer (photographer and artist, exhibition and book “Escape Routes: Autumn 2015 in Austria”). Clara Gallistl moderated the evening.
Changing Perceptions- Sharing Stories
Talking to each other instead about each other
Last Friday evening was all about exchange. Individual stories and experiences were shared. All participants had the opportunity to ask the artists questions about their work, their stories and their own living realities. Many personal photos gave even more insights into the other’s life. It was a wonderful evening with very deep conversations.
Wonderful impressions of the exhibition opening of Living Realities. Changing Perceptions. on the 8th of November at Brunnenpassage.
In addition to the touring exhibition “Stages of Flight” by Simon van Hal (photographer) and Nermin Ismail (author, journalist), which was already shown in Prague and Athens, the photographers and the Artist Class of Brunnenpassage presented their own works to show insights of their personal Living Realities.
The evening was moderated by Raschid Zainaldain and the musicians Basma Jabr and Orwa Saleh, as well as Bairak Alaisamee provided a pleasant atmosphere.
We are getting ready for the Exhibition “Stages of a Flight” as part of the EU- project “Living Realities. Changing Perceptions.” and are looking forward to tomorrow’s opening at Brunnenpassage.
Vernissage and concert: 8th November at 7pm
In order to explore and visualize different perspectives on exile, a group of people who had to leave their homes and are currently living in Vienna, engaged in a collaborative creation and reflection process. The process started with the topic introduction and learning different tools related to the language of photography in the context of different workshops. After practicing different techniques, the group started creating their own photos to show different perspectives of exile. The participants spread out in the city, explored places, people and situations they encountered with the themes of love, loss and longing, as well as their own experiences of flight and exile and captured them with the camera. The photos serve afterwards as impulses to speak about different experiences using participatory methods like “Photovoice”. They talked about their individual approaches, their artistic exploration and their own stories behind the photos.
The entire project will be shown with the touring exhibition “Stages of a Flight” which opens on November 8th at 7pm at Brunnenpassage. The audience is invited to reflect on their own relationship to the topic, rather than merely observe the art works. Topics of refuge, war and the pursuit of freedom concern everybody and require an active engagement. This work shares insights into the photographers’ living realities and opens a platform for conversation, aiming to deconstruct stereotypes and change individual and collective perceptions.
On the 13th of July 18, kids from the refugee home ‘House Liebhartstal’ joined the ‘In my dreams I feel free’ rehearsal to play, improvise, share stories and lunch together with the performers.
Jaskaran, a young dancer from the group shared his thoughts and impressions with us:
“The children have amazing amount of energy. They are innocent and incredible in their own way (…) There happened to be a conversation of how long they have been in Vienna (…) one of the girls mentioned that they might have a passport soon and the other girl in the group reacted so surprised and sad at the same time, seeming that they have been told this is the major thing in their world at the moment and it decided their future. It was moment of concern for me that the politics has such an influence on human that they compare their freedom with the status of their passport. I can understand them as well, due to the fact that I hold an Indian passport in the European Union(…)
There is a lot of trust and friendship amongst the children, they don’t see others as different country people rather a community of children in the same situation (…) What is the aim for them? A girl answered PEACE. And what is peace for her? It is when she, her family and friends and every human can have their own right. It touched me as they understand the freedom or being accepted the way they are is a basic necessity for being in peace.”
(c) ffilmtec
