Taaza Tareen 9: Regional Green Dialogues

‘Only art is capable of dismantling the repressive effects of a senile social system that continues to totter along the death line: to dismantle in order to build a social organism as a work of art.’

Joseph Beuys

The main objective of this project has been to overcome stalled political parameters of mutual distrust and enmity between the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  With two artists from Afghanistan and three from Pakistan, the Taaza Tareen residents have emphasized in their work how critical it is to involve the general public with art as these initiatives have the capacity to mobilize and transform society’s perspective on politics and social constraints. By developing the concept of Social Sculpture during the 1970’s, German artist Joseph Beuys established a very broad and political understanding of art. Art, in his regard should not be reduced to material artefacts that form a visible final “product” and be exhibited in galleries and museums. Through this understand of social sculpture, the five artists in residence have worked towards creating interactive pieces of art which are mindful and reflective, concentrating on new ways of thinking. During the period of this month long residency, the artists have developed their process throughout the city of Karachi at multiple locations, interacting with people from various economic and geographical backgrounds. The outcome from their residency has been nurtured and mentored through weekly sessions with Professor Shelley Sacks, Director of the Social Sculpture Unit at the Oxford Brookes University, U.K..