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.
After three intensive blocks of nine workshop days, diving into various photophraphy techniques including experimental studio work, long time exposure, street photography and performance, the group met on the fourth weekend to refect and evaluate the photographs that were created. The results are a manifold of perspectives onto the city and the protagonist´s individual commentary on the past, present and future. The focus of this workshop session laid on storytelling and WHY and HOW the work shall be shared with the public.
The photographs and narratives created will be shared in the framework of the exhibition Stages of a Flight in Brunnenpassage in November and December 2018.
Street theatre workshop with Monica Hunken – Living Theatre NY
In the third block of the photography workshops the group was joined by the performer and activist Monica Hunken from the Living Theatre Company, NYC.
In this workshop, the participants explored some basic street theater techniques for drawing focus, moving as an ensemble, creating striking images, playing with creative impulse and imaginative associations and how to communicate meaningful narrative through their bodies, working with the three basic emotions LOVE, LOSS & LONGING.
After first steps inside, the protagonists took these news skills to the street and devised mini pieces at nearby locations.
The photography served as a tool for documentation and Narration, capturing the feelings expressed through body language and interaction.
(c) Fesih Alpagu ffilmtech.com
