Waves - Zory (Farngis Shahrokhi)
Margaret Harvey Gallery, St Albans
7 March - 14 April 2007
Private View: Thursday 8 March, 6-8pm
Gallery opening times: Wednesday - Saturday, 11am-5pm
For this exhibition Zory has produced a new video installation entitled Waves in which she uses the sea as a metaphor for displacement. It follows the journey of a woman escaping by sea. She struggles through the waves to reach shore.
In some parts of the video projection when you enter the installation room you will immediately become part of the projection as the body and physical movement of each visitor is captured by an overhead CCTV camera and then projected back onto the screen.
The visitor becomes the actress in the video, distorting the narrative, their body image absorbed into the story. When the visitor leaves the projection room their image will also disappear. The visitor’s body in the room will form part of the work. Their movement and actions become part of the story - they too are trapped in the waves, struggling for their life.
The installation demonstrates a visual ambiguity on the subject of crossing borders. The sea replaces the walls and fence restrictions usually encountered by asylum seekers. Dover has been used as one location for filming this work as it represents trauma as well as freedom for many refugees. Zory herself came to the UK from Iran as a political asylum seeker in 1985.
The installation will also incorporate cloth bundles made from Middle Eastern fabric placed on the floor. The large bundles filled with clothes and personal effects suggest a long journey or an escape.
Zory is one of thirteen artists selected from over 140 for the Arts Council’s Escalator visual arts scheme which supports artists in the Eastern region. Waves will also be shown at The Junction, Cambridge 2-29 July and the Norwich Arts Centre, 5 August -16 September. With thanks to the staff at Oval House, London.
For further information please email info.uhgalleries@herts.ac.uk or telephone the Galleries’ Office on 01707 284290.
Transport from London: Frequent Thameslink trains run from King’s Cross Thameslink to St Albans (20 minutes duration). The gallery is 10 minutes walk from St Albans train station.