The new exhibition Das Hohelied der Vögel / The Canticle of the Birds by Katia Kameli and curated by Valerie Chartrain opens at ifa Gallery Berlin on 12 May 2023.
The exhibition combines ceramic figures, watercolours, sketches and a brand new cinematic production into a unified poetic whole.
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.
