︎︎︎ Works
Place-names are an important part of our geographical and cultural environment. They identify geographical entities of different kinds and represent irreplaceable cultural values of vital significance to people. Many of places having been named after well-known figures but the question is: will the existence of a name or a historical monument fully represent that cultural or historical figure? Since the aim of this project is to question the names of places and commemoration of the names in the city in the form of traditional and passive methods such as making plaques or inanimate monuments, I decided to propose a metaphorical place that actively responds to this challenge. This has achieved through the active presence and interaction of people in a place that is more real and tangible than a title that is assigned to a place in the form of a label.
Assuming that each person has a place in society due to their presence and activity, I established my place inspired by the names of the squares in German as Farzaneplatz. This place is neither a physical place nor a utopian place, but a state of my presence and action in relation to public space and people, which changes according to different circumstances and times. Farzaneplatz is ongoing and remains open ended. I have allowed it to make an impact in any geography all over the world and pursue it as an exciting project to give myself and others the opportunity to develop in any situation.
Farzaneplatz
2021 - cont.Place-names are an important part of our geographical and cultural environment. They identify geographical entities of different kinds and represent irreplaceable cultural values of vital significance to people. Many of places having been named after well-known figures but the question is: will the existence of a name or a historical monument fully represent that cultural or historical figure? Since the aim of this project is to question the names of places and commemoration of the names in the city in the form of traditional and passive methods such as making plaques or inanimate monuments, I decided to propose a metaphorical place that actively responds to this challenge. This has achieved through the active presence and interaction of people in a place that is more real and tangible than a title that is assigned to a place in the form of a label.
Assuming that each person has a place in society due to their presence and activity, I established my place inspired by the names of the squares in German as Farzaneplatz. This place is neither a physical place nor a utopian place, but a state of my presence and action in relation to public space and people, which changes according to different circumstances and times. Farzaneplatz is ongoing and remains open ended. I have allowed it to make an impact in any geography all over the world and pursue it as an exciting project to give myself and others the opportunity to develop in any situation.
The Last
Snow
Marktplatz - Weimar2021
At the end of winter 2021 I offered the citizens, passers-by, and tourists of Weimar the last snow of the year at the market square. And in exchange, I asked them for a smile, a sentence about their winter mood or a donation for "Tasifan" (group of a city circus).
Every time passers-by were interested in taking some of the last snow, I asked them in what shape and size they would like it. I got a lot of smiles from passers-by of different ages. Some of the requests from people who were interested in having "The Last Snow" included a form of a moon, a Thuringia sausage, melted snow and balls in different sizes. Along with the comments that people wrote about their feelings of winter, € 23 were donated to charity.
Nowruz
Am Horn35c2021
I took advantage of the idea of Nowruz that also known as the Persian New Year and was inspired to set up an interactive exhibition at Farzaneplatz. This exhibition not only demonstrated my cultural background but also created an opportunity to exchange it with other cultures, and also to exchange the unique and individual concept of renewal and rebirth between visitors and myself.
In the early Spring, I announced to the public in the form of an invitation that I offered them a sense of Spring and Nowruz at my place. In return, they should share or bring a Spring item that symbolizes renewal and rebirth from their perspective.
The elements and instructions in this exhibition included:
1- The “Haft Sin" table is, in fact, the Persian tradition of putting 7 symbolic items together whose names commence with S. Each item in Haft-Sin symbolizes the value of nature and life. Apart from the items starting with "sin", there are others that do not start with this letter but, nonetheless, are invariably included.
2- The” Winter to Spring” sculptures which represent the transition of the last sense of Winter into Spring through snowballs. To illustrate this transition, snowballs were placed on metal kitchen strainers, and those strainers were placed on glass jars. Over time, the snow dripped and melted into the jars.
3- The” Fertile Soil” sculptures in the form of balls in different sizes were a part of my garden that people could take with themselves and use. As the soil is a metaphor of power for lands and according to some religious beliefs is the great connector of lives, a belief the beginning and destination of all life, we all are responsible to take proper care until a new burst of bloom ensues. As Spring is a good time to improve soil, I offered the audience to take and use these soil balls so their plants can grow healthy and can reach their full potential in the upcoming season.
4- The'' Micronaturscope”, a series of wooden sculptures with metal handles. These pieces of wood were parts of tree branches in which holes were naturally created. For me, looking at the live nature through the hole of dead wood nature is like catching sparks of hope in the darkness. There is a wonder and magic for our eyes to look around and these sculptures help us to see the surrounding nature more precisely. The audience could also try to test the Micronaturescopes.
5- “Eggshells”, that each represent a part of my inner and outer self. The audience had the right to choose one of the arranged shells on the table and take it with them and in exchange, they would leave a symbolic item that they had brought themselves. An egg embodies the idea of rebirth and renewal in the cycle of life, reflected also in its shape, with neither beginning nor end. To translate Farzaneplatz symbolically, I can easily compare an egg to my place and space. The liquid matter within it is my mind, and the white shell is the space that surrounds me. I fantasize in this safe cozy space, and I reflect my fantasies in this space as well. However, since the volume of my imagination usually exceeds the capacity of my place, that shell breaks and becomes components, each of which contains traces of my fantasy.
By asking the public to bring a symbolic item, I involved them in the creation of a new table set. The range of items people brought with themselves that symbolized renewal for them was very diverse. From an egg, a book, flowers, apple seeds, night and day teas, hair clips to a piece of music, poetry, a letter, a bottle of air and water.
Frauenplan
Frauenplan - Weimar2021
During some years I have lived in Weimar, I have seen the city as a historical museum, with many of its locations resembling an object named after an influential person mostly in literature and politics. Among these names, the name "Frauenplan" came to my attention because of its plurality and feminine gender. Despite the living space that exists in this area, every time I pass by it, I find the name of this place in relation to the space soulless and questionable. I decided on a project that is going to light up the presence and importance of women in Frauenplan. I find it belongs to every woman, despite their differences, age, color, and looks. Therefore, this place will reflect democracy, humanization and feminization.
Through an invitation on a board, in the Frauenplan, I offered the women who pass by to sit on a chair in front of me so that I draw their portraits and give the original drawing to them at the end. In exchange, I ask them to share their stories, plans and feelings with themselves in the mirror, which is my drawing board as well.
My main questions were:
1- What is your personal connection to Weimar?
2- The second part of the Frauenplan name is "Plan", which means square. But now I want to use the other meaning of "plan". Do you have a plan you want to report on? For today or tomorrow?
3- How are you feeling now as I am portraying you?
In fact, the portrait I drew of them was not just their physical appearance, but also the conversations and reactions I received from the participant.
Grund/ Boden
Market Square and Platz der Grundrechte - Karlsruhe2021
The aim of this project was to invite passers-by in the public space in Karlsruhe to think about the complex of themes of soil, private and public land in the form of property and the basic rights associated with it, and to help shape these thoughts and worlds of experience in the form of a participatory art project.
As part of my artistic project in Karlsruhe, I collected soil from different parts of the city and formed spheres. I offered these spheres to passers-by on Karlsruhe's market square as so-called property. In return, I asked them to write down their thoughts and reactions to the topic of land and soil. For four days I collected the notes of the passers-by and presented them on the last day of the performance on the Platz der Grundrechte together with the earth spheres.
