Mahla Karimian
As a woman born during an Islamic regime Karimian was forbidden from any kind of artistic independence Iran. Her determination to create led her to enduring multiple terms of imprisonment from a young age. An unplanned departure, traumatic boat journey and time in detention extended the time Karimian was not able to develop and expand her art practice. Resilience and resourcefulness have allowed Karimian to convert these traumatic experiences with processes like etching with needles and biting with acids to create intricate works of fragile beauty. |
Amos Wainggai
Artist, musician and activist Wainggai left West Papua in a traditional canoe. He narrates and recreates the journey he took for his own safety and to bring awareness to human rights abuses, including over 200,000 deaths in the past 50 years under Indonesian rule. Wainggai uses his vocabulary of traditional symbols to create contemporary parables, using whichever mediums are available. These narratives are focused on culture and community and are designed to draw people into actively participating in creating culture, together. |