Azyl

object | 2 photos | 2024

“Azyl”(Asylum) is a metaphor for a shelter for humanity, a refuge from violence and war.

In the “Azyl” project, one of the key topics of my interest is the legal situation of women in relation to society and the state, especially in the contemporary context, as political and military tensions escalate. I am particularly interested in the contribution of women to the processes ofpreventing, resolving, and stopping conflicts, the use of feminist methods of activism in this area, and artistic strategies for discussing this topic.

I invited women from various Slavic nations, including Poles, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians, and anyone willing, regardless of nationality, background, age, and gender, to join the collaborative work; the participants created a net resembling a camou age net used in warfare. For the creation of the net, I deliberately chose colors and shades close to the color of human skin. I explain the choice of “skin color” as follows — the color of the skin symbolizes nakedness, and therefore vulnera- bility, intimacy*. Women engaged in weaving the net together inevitably remind of ancient artisans who often embroidered, knitted, and sewed to- gether, as frequently re ected in myths and fairy tales. Mythology has sociocultural significance; myths help preserve and transmit traditions, history, and cultural heritage, uniting people around shared values and strengthening social bonds. It can be said that myths, like place and society, are also our context. I perceive the common Slavic heritage as an important factor contributing to the shaping of discourse in an understandable and close language, which may promote unity. I work with Slavic themes because they are close to me as a representative of Slavic culture. Moreover, Slavic countries, located near the conflict zone, such as the war in Ukraine, are drawn into this situation. Examples of such situations can be generalized and applied to similar situations in the world related to warfare — e.g., Palestine/Israel, Armenia/ Azerbaijan, etc., as well as in the context of other cultural and social communities. Furthermore, similarities can be identified in the mythologies of various nations, which complement and enrich my research. Social cohesion and the thread of under- standing that emerges in the process of collective creative work aim to lead a dificult discussion on the current political and war situation and our roles in it.

The “Azyl” project is a step towards solving the situation using the feminist concept. In my project, I combine the ideas of Laura J. Shepherd on the need to “listen to women” and the experiences of artist-activists working and creating within the craftivism art movement, who emphasize the im- portance of cooperation.

Preventing violence is a difficult task, and stopping the war is even harder. By drawing parallels between Slavic mythology, handicrafts, the role of women, and activism, I want to draw attention to the importance of the female voice in resolving and preventing armed conflicts. The objectcreated together is a witness to the dialogue and social interactions between women, giving them a voice and becoming a metaphorical symbol of a sanctuary where everyone is guaranteed safety and shelter.

*As is known, the spectrum of skin colors is vast, ranging from pale pinks to dark browns. However, the use of the term “flesh tone” and fabrics with a limited range of colors cannot be called intolerant in my project, as I am working within a specific “Slavic” context and choose these colors as closer and more comprehensible.

Exhibition Documentation Rodriguez Foundation

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