May flames pave the way for you

The title of the exhibition – May Flames Pave the Way for You – references the case of artists burning paintings in the streets of the Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah* in the 1990s, a time when many artists of the older generation had already left the country while the younger generation sensed a depletion in the formerly used language of art, given the geopolitical positioning of a state troubled with war and insurgence. The dramatic demonstration became an announcement of an artistic breakthrough, as it were, comprising a breakaway from continuing modernist tradition, quest for inspiration in daily life practice, and use of the visual vernacular.

Emotional transformation associated with experiencing history and the varying paths of individual memory, coupled with changes brought by the Iraq War to daily life and the society are a major component of the exhibition. While developing a new language of art in a country ravaged by war and the social experience of struggling for economic survival is particularly difficult, it did produce a number of vital works and introduce a number of major characters to the art scene. Exhibition-related research spanned many years from the year 2007 onwards, i.a. thanks to workshops delivered in the Iraqi part of Kurdistan by Polish curator Aneta Szyłak and Hiwa K, an internationally renowned Kurdish artist residing in Berlin; the majority of artists showing their works at this exhibition were active participants of these workshops.

Artists invited to join the exhibition are in their thirties and forties; most have had the opportunity of studying abroad, chiefly in Germany, the United Kingdom, or Scandinavia. Some have returned and are teaching at art schools, while others remained in the diaspora. Invitees include the following, among others: Hiwa K (Berlin), Sherko Abbas (Manchester), Kani Kamil (Manchester), Shirwan Fatih (Sulaymaniyah), Rebeen Hamarafiq (Sulaymaniyah), Rozhgar Mustafa (Sulaymaniyah), Sakar Sleman (Sulaymaniyah), Walid Siti (London), Halgurd A. Baram (Sulaymaniyah).

The exhibition comprises a number of multimedia installations, sculptures, drawings and photographs, all of which will fill the space of Białystok’s Arsenal Gallery with multi-dimensional, emotional narrative carrying an extraordinary cultural and political message.

Aneta Szyłak

* We are using the name “Sulaymaniyah”. The official index of Polish geographical names published by the Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography (2019 edition) lists the city as As-Sulajmanijja; transcribed from the Arabic, it is considered offensive by the Kurds. The city’s name in Kurdish reads “Silêmanî”.

Translated by Aleksandra Sobczak-Kövesi

Events accompanying the exhibition
NIECH POPRZEDZA CIĘ PŁOMIEŃ / MAY FLAMES PAVE THE WAY FOR YOU
June 26 – August 9, 2020
 
Arsenal Gallery power station
13, Elektryczna Street, Białystok
(entry from Świętojańska Street)
 
 
June 26, 2020 (Friday) 6 p.m.
Opening of the exhibition MAY FLAMES PAVE THE WAY FOR YOU
During the opening night we will see a video screening of musical performance
WHEN THE WILD INSTRUMENTS SING
Artists taking part in the performance:
Sherko Abbas, Khabat Abas, Hardi Kurda
 
June 27, 2020 (Saturday), 1 p.m.
Curatorial guided tour of the exhibition (in Polish)
Guide: exhibition curator Aneta Szyłak
 
July 2, 2020 (Thursday), 7 p.m.
From the series KURDISH CINEMA AT ARSENAL GALLERY, part 1
 
July 12, 2020 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
Guided tour of the exhibition in Byelorussian
Guide: Alina Wawrzeniuk
 
July 16, 2020 (Thursday), 7 p.m.
From the series KURDISH CINEMA AT ARSENAL GALLERY, part 2
 
July 21, 2020 (Tuesday), 6 p.m.
MAY FLAMES PAVE THE WAY FOR YOU
online lecture on contemporary Kurdish art (in Polish)
exhibition curator Aneta Szyłak
 
July 25, 2020 (Saturday), 1 p.m.
Guided tour of the exhibition in Polish sign language
Guide: Daniel Kotowski
 
July 30, 2020 (Thursday), 7 p.m.
From the series KURDISH CINEMA AT ARSENAL GALLERY, part 3
 
June 30 – August 7, 2020 (Tuesday – Friday), 12 to 3 p.m.
SEPPO workshop for high school and university students
accompanying the exhibition MAY FLAMES PAVE THE WAY FOR YOU (in Polish)
The workshop will be run by: Katarzyna Kida, Justyna Kołodko-Bietkał, Izabela Liżewska, Eliza Urwanowicz-Rojecka, Justyna Zieniuk
Entries: j.zieniuk@galeria-arsenal.pl
Admission free
 
July 11–12; 25–26, 2020 (Saturday – Sunday), 11 a.m. to 12; 12 to 1 p.m.
ONLINE SEPPO Workshop for high school and University students
accompanying the exhibition MAY FLAMES PAVE THE WAY FOR YOU (in Polish)
The workshop will be run by: Katarzyna Kida, Justyna Kołodko-Bietkał, Izabela Liżewska, Eliza Urwanowicz-Rojecka, Justyna Zieniuk
Entries: j.zieniuk@galeria-arsenal.pl
Entries will be accepted until July 10, 2020, 3 p.m.
Please provide the date and time for the workshop you want to attend in the email title. You will receive a feedback email with your logging details to participate
Places subject to availability
Admission is free
 
July 7 – August 9, 2020 (Tuesday – Sunday), 12 to 5 p.m.
Man-U-facturers – self-service baskets for family and friends with sets of creative activities enhancing the reception of the exhibition MAY FLAMES PAVE THE WAY FOR YOU (in Polish)
 
July 7 – August 9, 2020
Man-U-facturers online – self-service baskets for family and friends with sets of creative activities enhancing the reception of the exhibition MAY FLAMES PAVE THE WAY FOR YOU (in Polish)
 
August 2, 2020 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
Guided tour of the exhibition in English
Guide: Eliza Urwanowicz-Rojecka
 
August 9, 2020 (Sunday), 12 noon
Closing day of the exhibition MAY FLAMES PAVE THE WAY FOR YOU
Final curatorial guided tour online (in Polish)
Guide: exhibition curator Aneta Szyłak
 
Admission to all events is free
 
During all events Galeria Arsenał follows recommendations of local public health agency concerning the spread of COVID-19