In the framework of the exhibition Das Hohelied der Vögel / The Canticle of the Birds, a talk with artist Katia Kameli and the curator of the exhibition Valerie Chartrain will take place on 13 May 2023 at 16:00.
The work is inspired by the Conference of the Birds, an epic poem by the Sufi poet Farīd al-Dīn ʿAṭṭār, who lived in 12th century Persia. It follows the initial migratory voyage of thousands of birds in search of the mythical winged creature Simorgh. In reference to the title of a new French translation of the work, with Das Hohelied der Vögel / The Canticle of the Birds Katia Kameli presents her very own translation of the epic poem, appropriating various narrative elements in novel forms and combinations while simultaneously adding layers of music, dance and geography.
The exhibition combines Katia Kameli’s ceramic sculptures, watercolors, silk paintings, her sketches, and the film into one poetic whole. Kameli invites visitors on an inner journey imbued with spirituality and beauty, a reflection on our own quests and identities. What are we if not the sum of all the stories that came before us?
Katia Kameli lives in Paris and works with various media, primarily film and video. Since the early 2000s, she has been creating a dense, multifaceted body of work. With her dual French and Algerian culture, she crosses boundaries between territories and interrogates the blind spots of history. She connects far-flung facts, ties loose links, and gives voice to silenced words to write counter-narratives. Her research fuses and interlaces to integrate manifold perspectives. She was shortlisted for the 2022 Aware prize and honoured by the Mondes Nouveaux program.
Valerie Chartrain, lives in Paris and Berlin. Since 2002, Valerie Chartrain has been developing curatorial and discursive events both on her own and collectively. She works with artists, galleries, and other institutions to produce texts, exhibitions, catalogues, and events. She is the co-editor-in-chief and co-founder of Petunia, a feminist and intersectional magazine on art and cul-ture since 2009. She is also a creative strategist and conceptualizes, implements, and directs projects that help organizations envision their futures.
