The Nomadic Party exhibition, presented by the International Artist Collective Nine Dragon Heads, presents a series of events exploring how art transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. Organized concurrently with the 60th Venice Biennale, the exhibition and panel program feature the participation of 29 artists from 15 different countries.
From Turkey, Bedri Baykam, Denizhan Özer, and Şerife Bilgili Ercantürk are participating as members of the Nine Dragon Heads collective.
Bedri Baykam contributes not only his piece titled "Again and Again" but also serves as a speaker in the panel program. In a world where prejudices, hatred, and corruption are increasing, the artist believes that the most effective way to contribute to peace is through international dialogue facilitated by art. At a time when war is destroying both dreams and the futures of innocent children, he considers it a priority to focus on social and universal creativity to find solutions to our planet's growing problems. "Again and Again" transforms into a new artwork centered around the artist’s 1987 graffiti titled "This Has Been Done Before" and his later 2011 piece "Dirty War," reminding us of the severe consequences of war. The work, emphasizing the lives and traumas of children above all, in an era marked by chaos and the tragic loss of innocence, reminds us that the nomadic spirit is no longer about exploration but a consequence of ruthless massacres.
Denizhan Özer's work stems from his personal exhibition "Unknown Stories" previously exhibited at Piramid Sanat. In his work, Denizhan Özer focuses on the lives of people from various social groups who have left their homes and homelands for various reasons, incorporating real documents and materials he has collected over about 25 years into installations, paintings, photographs, and videos to reveal the unknown stories of refugees he has personally followed. The functioning of border gates, the recklessness of government policies, the relationship of illegal organizations with the system, the dangers of migration that start with the hope for a better life, and the desperation of individuals caught between tradition and modernity are the main issues he addresses and defends in his arrangements. The artist focuses on the hidden realities of journeys that begin with hopes for a better life and a future for children but tragically end in airless truck containers.
Şerife Bilgili Ercantürk’s work stands for the inconsistency in the freedom of women. With this discrimination against women, the participation of Afghan women in political, social, economic, and cultural life has been hindered. Not only have their rights been violated, but also human principles such as honor and dignity. A full-length, blood-red burka, which covers the body and hides the face behind a barred window, serves as a symbol of restricted and violated freedom. The burka, symbolizing ‘violence’, is juxtaposed with images and signifies the time it passes through with the metaphorical use of a few colors. The artist continually shows the viewer the harsh realities with her ready-made. She turns the injustices in the world into a sadness spreading from the room where she ‘hung’ it to memory. And she asks what can be done to relieve the burden from the shoulders of women in a certain geography?
Nomadic Party aims to create a dialogue through the universal language of art and culture. The event brings together diverse and transformative works of artists, showing visitors how art can illuminate social and political issues.
The exhibition explores Venice's historical and cultural riches, opening discussions on the role of art in environmental and ethical issues. International participants gather at conferences and other events to explore local and global solutions.
Nomadic Party can be visited at Spazio Punch in Venice from April 19 until the Biennale closes on November 24, 2024
Preview & Presentation: April 17-19, 2024
Opening Ceremony: April 19, 2024, at Spazio Punch & Pellestrina Island, Venice
Conference: April 19, 2024, at Spazio Punch, Venice
General Opening: April 20, 2024
https://www.spaziopunch.com/projects/nomadic-party
