Disdainful comfort: German artist brings story of oppressed women, idea of home to life

Susanne Husemann’s collection creates a powerful visual perspective on life in the region.

ISLAMABAD:

In a collection of paintings going up on display at the Nomad Art Gallery here on Thursday, Susanne Husemann, a German artist, explores the notion that home is a feeling, rather than a place, a comfort zone of sorts.

“In my work, I think about home. What is home? It is not chosen but is simply there; as with identity or authenticity, it is not something that I can deliberate,” she explained.

The artists who has been living in the country for some time, is displaying her work for the second time at the gallery.

The current exhibition features work along the theme.

Titled “My family”, the first series focuses on the burka, a garment for women which invites controversy around the world. Prominent in the series are the paintings of the “Blue Burka Band,” an Afghan girls’ band who used to sing critical songs about the burka in Afghanistan.

The other series meanwhile, is about Husemann’s country of origin, Germany.



“Susanne’s sensitive and hard-hitting collection probes beneath the surface and creates her own, powerful visual perspectives on life in this volatile, and culturally and historically rich region --- where she has now live for quite some years,” said Nageen Hyat, the gallery curator.

The compelling paintings take on a life of their own, illustrating tribal customs, outdated practices and their impact on children and youth. From burqa-clad silhouettes camping out in front of snow-capped mountains like an army, to the band girls performing on drumming kit or sporting electric guitars are some of the interesting interpretations of women in a war-ravaged territory.

Another series comprises of black and white portraits of oppressed brides forced into child marriages ending in their tragic deaths. The morose feel is further illustrated through the black-and-white portraits with a combination of patterns and colours in the background.

One of them is that of an actual seven-year-old Yemeni child bride who died on the wedding night. Donning a white wedding veil, she betrays despondence through her eyes and mouth despite the bright pink backdrop’s lending of a soft and lively feel.

In yet another piece, a little girl is sprawled on her bed grasping a dead, bleeding bird. The girl’s expression is both lifeless and melancholic simultaneously --- the sense of an ending. Husemann has likened the shackles of these young girls to the death of birds.  In two of the paintings titled “It would be something to fly”, the artist shows dead birds, alluding to loss of lives which were meant to be fancy-free and innocent otherwise.

The exhibition which is largely reflects the artist’s impression from this part of the world mainly owing to the sensationalistic hype of media reports will be inaugurated by German Ambassador Cyril Nunn and will continue till January 23.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2014.