In this episode Sasha discusses Hayv Kahraman. She is a student journalist with us on a placement organised by the Oxford University Career Services. This article was edited using You.com.
🎧 listen to Sasha's backstory here - she discusses her motivation & research as well.
Sasha also wrote a short 2 min read article about Hayn with a summary inforgraphic.
Hayv Kahraman’s art: an exploration of identity, war, and female refugeehood.
Born in Baghdad during the Gulf War, Kahraman's journey to Sweden at the age of ten sparked a lifelong exploration of self and society. Through her artwork, she explores the challenges faced by refugees and the complexity of identity, using botany, colonialism, eyes, surveillance, marbling, and control to create a captivating tapestry of violence, beauty, and sexuality.
In 2006, Kahraman moved to Los Angeles amidst the sectarian violence in Iraq. The guilt she felt for leaving her war-torn country fueled her artistic career. She worked tirelessly and caught the attention of the Third Line gallery in Dubai with her collection of small paintings. Since then, her success has flourished.
Marbling, a Turkish technique involving dipping paper into liquid, is a prominent feature in Kahraman's artwork. It showcases its inherent beauty and serves as a metaphor for surrendering control. As a survivor of domestic violence and a war refugee, Kahraman values agency in her life. Marbling, with its unpredictable nature, defies control. While she can regulate its position on the canvas, the rest is left to chance. This lack of control is both liberating and therapeutic for her.
A recurring theme in Kahraman's paintings is the depiction of women without irises, especially in her recent collection titled 'Look me in the eyes'. These female figures are shown placing eyeballs into their sockets, plucking them from plants, or even putting them into their mouths. Inspired by her cousin's work with incoming refugees from Afghanistan, many of whom remove their fingerprints to avoid detection by the Eurodac system, Kahraman highlights the brutality of their experiences. She also engages in a dialogue with the male gaze, female sexuality, and identity at large.
In summary, Kahraman's artistic journey began with her displacement from Baghdad to Sweden. Her work delves into the challenges faced by refugees and the intricate nature of identity, using various elements to create a powerful and thought-provoking mosaic. Her move to Los Angeles further fueled her artistic career, and her success has grown from there. Marbling, with its uncontrollable beauty, symbolizes the need for control in Kahraman's life. Additionally, her depiction of women without irises reflects the harsh realities faced by refugees and engages with broader themes of identity and sexuality.
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