Arts
is among the strongest medium for change in society.
Throughout
history, we find remnants of archaeological findings of the art that abounds in many modern societies of today as references to
support this.
As
society and culture are constantly in flux, they absorb new
influences which are made possible through contact with other
cultures, contacts, mostly through new migrants.
In
this way, culinary culture, dress culture, architecture, music,
visual arts and more are modified using the newly adapted
influences.
In
Finland, the signs of adapted influences are not hard to find, just
like in every other nation of the world, and these influences help in
no little way to beautify the society and make it more dear to the
rest of the world.
For
these influences to be made available, we need what I may term;
Influence Generators.
It
takes a certain kind of individual, and groups to supply the tools
that will help to generate the process of change, it also requires
resilience, patience, and persistent continuity to qualify as an
influence generator.
EU-MAN,
The European Migrants Artists Network fitted
very well into the above category as influence generator. The organization through the resilience of its founder, and Chairman,
Amir Khatib has made much impact in the art circle in Finland and
around Europe since its formation in 1997, some 22 years ago.
The
organization over these years have conducted dozens of exhibition in
Finland and around Europe, which featured all together over 100
European Migrant artists.
The
impacts of these exhibitions have been quite awesome, considering the huge wave of diversity they portrayed.
WOMAN,
SOURCE OF LIFE EXHIBITION
EU-MAN
recently donned a new cap on Thursday the 15th of August 'Helsinki
City Night of The Arts' when it opened the 'Woman, Source of Life
Exhibition.
The opening had quite an impressive turnout even considering the fact
that it took place on a day the entire city was superinfused with
artistic happenings.
The exhibition featured the works of 44 artists, and it included
paintings in different mediums, carvings, and installations.
The
opening of the exhibition was by JP
(Juha-Pekka) Väisänen,
a conceptual artist, cum Politician, (PJ is the present chairperson
of the Finnish Communist Party, (SKP)
In
his opening speech, Väisänen emphasized the importance of the
exhibition in the ongoing debate on good society, the role of the
artist and change.
He
thinks that the best thing about the exhibition is that the works
challenge the viewer to want to know the worlds behind the pictures.
Väisänen
urges the government of Antti Rinne to increase the percentage of
funding for arts and culture of the state
budget.
 |
| JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen, a conceptual artist, cum Politician |
(Excerpt
from Väisänen's speech)
”The
Rinne government, which calls itself a leftist government, must do
better today, with circular pledges and long-term action to change
the situation today. Artists, and in particular migrant artists and
their interest groups such as EU MAN, need basic everyday security,
salary for the artist's work and funding for organizations.
We
artists have a role to play. We need to demand a more prominent place
and pay for our work as artists and organizations. I think the role
of art is to be like life, enable participation and change the world.
The artist's task is also a challenge where everyone has the freedom
to define their own work and their goals.
The
44 artists in this exhibition challenge us for a discussion. I dare
say that the organizers of the exhibition, the European Union Migrant
Artist Network, the curators Saad Al Falahi and Amir Khatib are
challenging us, the viewers to ask until the beauty is just in our
eyes.
This exhibition brings information, perspectives, and speeches to the
Finnish debate, without which it would not be possible without
immigrant artists.
The
role of the Immigrant Artists' Association in stimulating public
debate on good society, human rights, equality, participatory
democracy, and tolerance is essential. I argue that this exhibition
is also a challenge to want to know more about what is behind these
pictures. Why a woman hanging on a cross
EU-MAN
with this additional cap has shown that it has no plans on relenting
on its goal as stated on their website with the caption – WhyWe Started:
"On
a bird's wing, a bird that I have never and shall never see and from
a long time, I came to the furthest north, to Finland.
More
than a decade and a half and I am still braiding my black hair to be
a bridge to pass.
Our
worried eyes collected all the love to tell you that we were here,
lied, interacted and did… yes, we did that all in a field that is
considered the lung by which all humans are breathing; it is the art
field, especially the visual art. It is the swing of love to draw the
future.
Art
is the language that everybody understands, it is like love, I would
not say like politics. Our aim in principle was to declare the
movement within a third culture* in the arts field; it is a cultural
human goal as we are more than 28 million immigrants in Europe and
some of us are Europeans by feelings and future. Maybe we are
different from the roots, but branches are in Europe and they will
remain as such”
The
Woman, Source of Life Exhibition
is still open
15
August to 1st September
Curators:
Saad
Al Falahi
Amir
Khatib
 |
| Amir Khatib, Chairman European Union Migrant Artists Network |
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