PRESS INFORMATION

Pınar Öğrenci – A Gentle Breeze Passed Over Us

3 March – 7 May 2017, Garage

Press conference: Thursday, 2 March 2017, 10 a.m.

Opening: Thursday, 2 March 2017, 7 p.m.

The exhibition of Istanbul-based artist Pınar Öğrenci highlights the both politically and socially

explosive topics of war, migration and asylum on the example of an Iraqi living in Vienna. A

Gentle Breeze Passed Over Us (2017) is a four-channel video installation shown for the first time

at KUNST HAUS WIEN. As a universal language, music plays an important role in intercultural

exchange. In Pınar Öğrenciʼs work it is both narrative and metaphor for translocality.

The four films tell a story of resistance, they present Ahmed Obaid Shaqaqi, a young Iraqi who

was forced to leave the country of his childhood shadowed by the war, and who tries to build a

new life for himself in Vienna with the help of music. On the occasion of her 40-day visit to

Vienna in 2016, Pınar Öğrenci became acquainted with the young Iraqi musician Ahmed Obaid

Shaqaqi. Shaqaqi, a very talented oud player (short-necked lute from the Middle East), lives in a

refugee home in Vordere Zollamtsstraße. He and his family were persecuted by militant Islamist

groups and were thus forced to abandon their country. During the time Öğrenci spent with

Shaqaqi and his friends, trust and friendship developed between them. Pınar Öğrenci immersed

into Ahmeds world of music and learned the story of his flight. In her video installation A Gentle

Breeze Passed Over Us the artist brings together these significant aspects of Shaqaqis life in an

impressive and empathetic way.

The title of the work A Gentle Breeze Passed Over Us (orginal Arab title: ا�ل�ه�و�ا� ع�ل�ي�ن�ا� ن�س�م� Nassam

Aleyna Al Hawa) is taken from a song by the famous Lebanese singer Fairuz. The melancholic

song describes the longing for one’s native country; it can be heard in the streets of Istanbul, Pınar

Öğrenci’s home city, sung by musicians from the Middle East.

Pınar Öğrenci, Leaving Baghdad, 2017

© Pınar Öğrenci  

Pınar Öğrenci, Leaving Istanbul, 2017

© Pınar Öğrenci

Pınar Öğrenci, Leaving Istanbul, 2017

© Pınar Öğrenci

 

PINAR ÖĞRENCI: Biography & exhibitions

Pınar Ögrenci (b. 1973, Van, Turkey) is an artist, activist and writer. Based in Istanbul, she is the

founder and organizer of MARSistanbul, an art initiative launched in 2010. Öğrenci uses various

media in her artistic practice, including photography, video, film, performance and installation. Her

works address subjects such as migration, war, nationalism, cultural assimilation, collective

celebrations, and include stories of heroism and urban transformation. Her works have been

exhibited at various museums and art institutions, including the WKV Stuttgart, 2017; the

University of Applied Arts Vienna, 2016; MAXXI Museum, Rome, 2015-6; SALT Galata, Istanbul,

2015-6; De Las Fronteras Biennial, Tamaulipas, 2015; Sinop Biennial, Sinop, 2014; Çanakkale

Biennial, Çanakkale, 2014 and Depo, İstanbul, 2014. She also showed her works at various art

initiatives, such as Biquini Wax, Mexico City, 2015; Halle10, Munich, 2012; Galerie Kunst-Nah,

Hamburg, 2011; altonale-Fest, Frise, Hamburg, 2010; and 5533, Istanbul, 2010.

Since the late 1990s, Öğrenci has extensively written on contemporary art and architecture in

magazines, including Agos, Radikal, ArtUnlimited, m-est.org, SALT Online, Arkitera, Arredemento

Mimarlık, XXI, among others. She has participated in residency programmes in Henie Onstad

Kunstcenter, Oslo, Norway, 2016, R.A.T., Mexico City, 2015; Willa Waldberta, Munich, 2010, as well

as in conferences, workshops and research programmes such as wie Public Calling at National

Theatre Oslo, 2016; Middle East Festival, Henie Onstad Kunstcenter, Oslo, Norway, 2016;

“Plataforma Editable, Desplazamientos Curatoriales: Santiago, Valparaiso, Antofagasta, Tarabaca”

in Chile, 2015; “Public Space and Museums” CIMAM conference, Rio de Janerio, 2013; altonale-

fest, Hamburg, 2011.

KUNSTH AUS WIEN Garage

On the initiative of director Bettina Leidl, the former Garage of KUNST HAUS WIEN has served as

an additional exhibition space focusing on ecologically motivated and political art for two years

now.

FACTS FOR THE PRESS

Exhibition venue KUNST HAUS WIEN, Garage

Untere Weißgerberstraße 13, 1030 Vienna

Curator Verena Kaspar-Eisert

Duration 3 March - 7 May 2017

Opening Thursday, 2 March 2017, 7 p.m.

Press conference Thursday, 2 March 2017, 10 a.m.

Opening times Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Supporting programme Thursday, 9 March 2017, 7 p.m.

Artist talk with Pınar Öğrenci and with Petja Dimitrova

Concert of the Vienna-Ishtar Ensemble

Admission Museum Hundertwasser € 11 or photography exhibition € 9

Combined ticket for both exhibitions € 12

Annual ticket € 22 / annual family ticket € 39

Children up to 10 years: free admission; 11 to 18 years € 5

Free admission to Galerie and Garage

Press contact Eva Engelberger

+43-1-712 04 95-23

eva.engelberger@kunsthauswien.com

Press photos including photo credits are available for download at:

http://www.kunsthauswien.com/de/presse/pressefotos-download

KUNST HAUS WIEN is an enterprise of Wien Holding and is supported by Wien Kultur. We thank

the following cooperation and media partners for their support: Österreichische Lotterien, Club Ö1,

Die Presse, Weingut Mehofer, Schremser and Vöslauer.