AFGHANISTAN
Curated by Luca Cerizza.
Resulting in a feature film, a two-channel video installation and a publication, AFGHANISTAN is a new project by Farid Rahimi. The work stems from long-term research in which the artist reconnects with people and memories tied to the country of his father’s homeland, Afghanistan. Through a series of journeys, meetings and conversations, Rahimi—born in Switzerland but raised and residing in Italy—reconstructs a geographical and emotional map of this network of contacts, following an itinerary that extends from Italy and Germany to the United States, Australia and Japan. By traversing vast physical, and emotional distances, Rahimi has embarked on a three-month journey around four continents to piece together, to confront and reconstruct, his fragmented identity divided between distant family ties and his sense of belonging to a country he has never visited: Afghanistan. This reflection, originating from a personal need, extends to explore the universal concept of diaspora and the constant renegotiation of personal identity that originates from that.
Among the winners of the twelfth edition of the Italian Council by the Ministry of Culture, AFGHANISTAN is a project produced by Centro Itard Lombardia and curated by Luca Cerizza.
Different incarnations of the project, have already been presented at Ar/Ge Kunst in Bozen and at MAO (Museo di Arte Orientale) in Turin, partners of the project, and at Babylon in Berlin.
The final version of the installation To Afghanistan is now part of the collection of Mufoco, Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea in Milano-Cinisello Balsamo and will be presented in Berlin at The Institute for Endotic Research alongside with a book, published by Archive Books. The book features contributions from Francesca Recchia, independent researcher of Bocconi University in Milan; Zafar Sayan, sociologist and author of an essay on the Afghan diaspora; Mohammad Dawood Tawana, sociologist and researcher; Susanna Ravelli, coordinator of the project; and it is introduced by a conversation between Farid Rahimi and Luca Cerizza, editor of the publication.
The Appointments in Berlin
After the presentations in Bozen and Turin—respectively on May 13 at Ar/Ge Kunst and May 23 at MAO, Museo di Arte Orientale—before being acquired by Mufoco in Milano-Cinisello Balsamo, AFGHANISTAN by Farid Rahimi arrives in Berlin with a double date event.
On August 30, with the collaboration of the European partner Archive Kabinett e.V., the video—which will be part of the final installation—was screened in premiere vision at Babylon at 6pm, preceded by an introduction featuring the artist and the project’s curator, Luca Cerizza.
On September 19, at 6:30pm, at The Institute for Endotic Research, the book, which delves into the project realized within the framework of the Italian Council 2023, will be presented alongside the film projection.
AFGHANISTAN by Farid Rahimi—Project and work details
The project is curated by Luca Cerizza, produced by Centro Itard Lombardia, and realized with the support of the Italian Council XII edition, under the Ministry of Culture's General Directorate of Contemporary Creativity.
“We will tell the story of Afghanistan, without ever truly going there. We will evoke these places through the direct voices of those who have been there, who have lived there, through anecdotes, memories, and dramatic tales of war...”—Farid Rahimi
A podcast documenting the entire project journey has been created, curated by Marco Enrico Giacomelli and Sirio Schiano lo Moriello. The podcast series was previewed on Radio Arte and is available on platforms such as Amazon Music/Audible, Google Podcasts, and Spotify, as well as on the Centro Itard Lombardia website.
Events
AFGHANISTAN—presentation of the art project
May 13, 6–8pm
Screening of the video and talk about the art project, Ar/Ge Kunst, Kunstverein Bolzen, via Museo 29
AFGHANISTAN—presentation of the art project
May 23, 6–8pm
Screening of the video and talk about the art project, MAO Museo d’Arte Orientale di Torino, via San Domenico 11
AFGHANISTAN—a film by Farid Rahimi
August 30, 6–8pm
Presentation of the video that is part of the art project, Babylon, Rosa-Luxemburg Str. 30 Berlin
AFGHANISTAN—a film by Farid Rahimi
September 19, 6:30pm
Presentation of the book, which delves into the art project, The Institute for Endotic Research, Donau Str. 84 Berlin
This project was realized thanks to the support of the Italian Council (12th edition, 2023), a program for the international promotion of Italian art by the General Directorate for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture.
