Works by female Arabic artists at ZKM in Karlsruhe

There are no face veils, or burkas in the videos and pictures in the exhibition. 18 female Arabic artists are presented in the ZKM in Karlsruhe. «Veils are not an issue at all in the present situation,» says Elisabeth Klotz, curator of the show which will be on view until September 8th.

Klotz realised that all works are concerned with overcoming limits. This observation led to the title of the exhibition: „Cross-border Contemporary Female Artists from the Arabian Mediterranean Region“.

These border crossings are to be taken literally. In her film, Palestinian Emily Jacir secretly documented her way from Ramallah via a Israeli controller to the Bir Zait University. The shaky recordings demonstrate her helplessness. The Franco-Moroccan video artist Bouchra Khalili shows the labyrinthine escape routes leading Africans and Arabs into the long-awaited European countries. Her message: there are many obstacles but even more ways to circumvent them. Jordanian Oraib Toukan cuts out the shapes of Arabic countries and equipped them with magnets. Visitors ar allowed to move and rearrange the countries on the map.

Many of the works have been made before the Arab Spring and demonstrate the women’s courage. Recently deceased Egyptian Amal Kenawy asked men and women to crawl on their knees on the street. Not only passersby were irritated by this «Silence of the Lambs», the artist also has been arrested. According to Lara Baladi, the Arab Spring has not really changed the difficult situation. She contributed a monumental chastity belt to the exhibition as a symbol of the current reppression in her home country.

«The awakening still has to be won and conquered», says Tunisian Faten Rouissi. She is on the black list of religious zealots in her country. «I am careful but I do not abandon the field. They want to threaten me.» She is happy about the numerous small initiatives. «They spread out. It’s a good sign.» Two years ago, Rouissi appealed to the public to paint wrecked cars gutted by fire and turn them into symbols of the revolution. The video can be seen in the exhibition.

Female artists are also standing up for women’s rights and sexual liberation. Algerian-born Zoulikha Bouabdellah works with the Arabic signs for the different Kamasutra positions – a way to cincumvent the censorship. Diala Khasawnih from Amman is fascinated by bras. She collected first bras and the stories and memories that belong to them and which the owners told her.

Artists: Arwa Abouon, Lara Baladi, Anna Boghiguian, Yto Barrada, Zoulikha Bouabdellah, Diana El Jeiroudi, Rana ElNemr, Reem Ghazzi, Mona Hatoum, Susan Hefuna, Emily Jacir, Amal Kenawy, Bouchra Khalili, Diala Khasawnih, Randa Mirza, Faten Rouissi, Mouna Jemal Siala, Oraib Toukan