Each collage is a story, each word a chapter..

In this compelling project, the Amirali Bashiri delves into the interplay of language, identity, and adaptation.
Post-immigration, language serves as both material and medium, capturing the transformation journey.

Reimagine, recreate, redefine language.

These neologisms, coined from fragments of daily life and visual cues in the new environment, breathe life into mundane advertisements and signs.
Each collage narrates the artist's linguistic journey, forging new words that may not be found in dictionaries but resonate profoundly.

Some words emerge from shared alphabets within a single source, while others incorporate varied materials. As unconventional as they may appear, these linguistic creations transcend definitions, carrying the Amirali's unique journey and experiences.
They invite us to reflect on the fluidity of language and the artist's remarkable narrative of linguistic transformation.

In the world of words, we find new worlds..

“After immigration with living and learning a new language there are moments that I make new words/verbs with what I hear partially from environments or Visually while reading signs or advertisements in billboards or products in supermarket. I used everyday advertisements, signs and text that I encounter in my new everyday life. Simple collages with words that I made up. For some I use same alphabets in the same paper or same article for some others I use various materials from packaging or envelopes. The words even might not exist or have any meaning in dictionaries. { auchen – menheits } but for me makes sense and have meaning."

Çağla Gillis invites you on a captivating journey within the Language Machine exhibition, where the boundaries of storytelling are redefined. Like Ursula K. Le Guin's "Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction," Gillis presents a coffee cup that unfolds as a vessel of narratives. Within its depths, stories take form, manifesting in the patterns and shapes within the coffee grounds.

“It matters what matters we use to think other matters with; it matters what stories we tell to tell other stories with; it matters what knots knot knots, what thoughts think thoughts, what descriptions describe descriptions, what ties tie ties. It matters what stories make worlds, what worlds make stories.”

This cup is no ordinary container; it cradles tales waiting to be collected and gathered. Here, there is no singular hero, but a multitude of possibilities. A rearing horse on two legs, a blazing sun, a bird bearing news, a fish symbolizing abundance, a key signaling new beginnings, a woman gazing at the moon – all coexist in this space, echoing Le Guin's notion that "still there are seeds to be gathered, and room in the bag of stars."

These stories within the cup defy traditional narrative structures. They possess no clear beginnings or endings, reflecting the uninterrupted flow of daily life. They are tales without significant conflicts, mirroring the subtle intricacies of our everyday experiences.

Çağla Gillis' work is a testament to the power of storytelling as a form of art and expression, and within this exhibition, she encourages us to explore the limitless potential of narratives, where every story seamlessly transitions into the next, inviting us to ponder the intricate tapestry of life's experiences.

This innovative project unfolds as a digital open letter, drawing inspiration from the Travelogues and Post-cards archive AKON within the Austrian National Library's digital collection. Motivated by a deep sentimental connection to the archive and personal experiences as a migrant, Rodriguez Morales explores the nuances of foreignness, exoticism, and the stereotypes associated with arriving in a new territory.

A metafictional archive unfolds, stitching together the threads of foreignness and creating a space for empathy.

At its core, the project is a reconfiguration of collected texts, giving rise to a new metafictional archive. This archive weaves a narrative that intimately connects with the emotional landscape of adapting to unfamiliar surroundings. Visitors to the exhibition are invited to navigate this narration without a prescribed order, immersing themselves in the exercise of empathy and confronting the complexities of the foreign experience.

"Echoes of Experience" stands as a testament to the power of digital storytelling in bridging personal narratives with archival treasures, creating an evocative space for reflection on the shared aspects of the migrant experience.

"Artificial Lullaby" is an art project that merges the realms of memory and artificial intelligence. The project is a multifaceted exploration, intertwining different mediums, both digital and analogue.

Childhood - Illuminations -  Arthur Rimbaud

At the heart of "Artificial Lullaby" lies a poetic conversation between the artist and the artificial intelligence, spurred by the verses of Arthur Rimbaud's poem "Childhood." The project germinated from a desire to articulate the images and emotions encapsulated in the poem, as the artist sought to convey their personal interpretation to the AI.

The journey, however, didn't stop with Rimbaud's verses. It expanded into a broader, more intimate exploration. The generative animation breathes life into the artist's recollections, stitching together fragments from her childhood. These moving visuals become a cinematic tapestry, weaving the threads of personal history into the project's narrative.

The video piece, titled  T H E  W A Y  W E  W A L K E D  T O G E T H E R,  is composed of two essential elements: curated and edited footages from internet archives, capturing moments from human history, and a text component.

Developed during the Ars Electronica festival in 2023, this interactive video installation unfolded within a black box, isolating the audience while presenting footages depicting human crises throughout history. Two pivotal questions were posed to the audience at various intervals: "What do you see?" and "What do you feel?" The accompanying text comprises the responses gathered over five days of presenting the work.

Motivated by a quest to explore the possibility of connecting with each other's inner worlds, Sanaz Rafii, hailing from Iran with a background shaped by dictatorship, censorship, and limitations, embarked on this project. The initiative gained momentum in September 2022 with the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement following the tragic murder of Mahsa Amini. This period marked a profound disconnection from Sanaz Rafii's Austrian living environment, as the struggle in Iran resonated deeply.

The transformative question emerged: Can diverse backgrounds bridge the gap and connect on a profound level? Sanaz Rafii, recognizing the uniqueness of her experiences, sought to explore the potential of connecting inner worlds through art.

The text within the video encapsulates the audience's responses, serving as a collective exploration of shared inner worlds. To those who engage with this piece, Sanaz Rafii invites reflection on and response to the same questions, fostering an ongoing dialogue of connection and understanding.