Pre-Image (Blind as the Mother Tongue)

Hiwa K

As a member of the immigrant generation that illegally journeyed from Iraqi Kurdistan to Europe on foot, Hiwa K’s ‘Mirror’ simulates an experience of walking through foreign territory. Using an “object-sculpture” made of stick and motorbike mirrors which he balances on his nose, Hiwa K finds his way. The object acts as a navigation device and what Hiwa K calls “an adaptation tool” that he uses to familiarize himself with unknown spaces. It is an extension of the organs and senses, providing the traveler (and viewer) with various mirrored perceptions, “seemingly longing to my body rather than belon- ging to it”, describes Hiwa K. The artist sees both his own reflection and reflections of the environment through which he is walking, causing the viewer to consider him not as an individual, but as an entity in relation to his environment.  The artist and viewer are involved in a multifaceted balancing act, of sorts, as Hiwa K moves and adapts to accommodate the mirror object, and as the viewer shifts his/ her perception to accommodate Hiwa K’s movements. Both must orient themselves through shaky images, never fully aware of what is in front of or behind the frame. The surrounding landscape is scenic and visually interesting, but the traveler does not have the luxury to stop and look around due to the instability of his situation. As Hiwa K treks to the top of a tower/dome, the audience can sense the dizzying effect of having to maintain that equilibrium for such a prolonged amount of time. The viewer tries to see the artist’s unobstructed reflection in one of the many mirrors but the images are never fully clear. We can see glimpses of Hiwa K’s surroundings, what he calls “pre- images”, fragments of a puzzled future, which leave us with no choice but to continue looking up.  Single channel HD video, courtesy the artist, Prometeo Gallery Ida Pisani and KOW.
Country: Kurdistan - Iraq
Time: 18
Year: 2017
Language: English
Subtitles: English