11 Mar - 01 Apr 15
This gestural painting hurtles me into the future, disperses me into another place.
While the original photograph is rather static, here it looks as though I am escaping, or even that I am no longer there, or have already gone! All that remains of me is a movement of air, set in motion by my passing.
What is regrettable is that I don't enjoy the present, but what is positive is to see that my internal mechanism has not stopped...
As for the portraits of other participants, I am really surprised, because I was under the impression that unlike me, they had a fairly positive feeling of their expatriate life in Azerbaijan.
In some portraits, the movement, contrary to mine, attaches them to a past they seem to wear like a veil. I sense nostalgia, regret, and a displacement from the 'here and now', but in an ephemeral movement, like a transferable essence.
In others, there is a heavy sense of disquiet that emerges: it looks like a weight, a leaden sadness locks them in silence. Some even seem to be embedded in the furniture, like a sort of immobile species of chameleon who has, incidentally, lost their identity on the way.
One of the images that spoke to me was the one where the hand takes the place of the head at the end of this long neck that is the arm. It's quite funny and at the same time the meaning is a little alarming, I feel as if action has replaced thought and reflection. This is, for me, another image of escape from reality.
Some images are more dreamlike. It seems that the participants have disguised their environment to adapt to them, but somehow they appear to be lost or swallowed up in their own fantasies.
The portraits as a whole give me the impression that none of these women belong to the place that surrounds them, but how much of that is the expression of the participants, and how much is in the interpretation of the artist?
Marina Mathonnat
March 2014
Translated from French by Sarah Knill-Jones
The aim of this project has been to explore the personal impact of geographical displacement among foreign women living temporarily in Azerbaijan, and to gain some perspective on the image of the foreign woman among the local female population.
The cross section of participants aims to reflect the variety of foreign women present in this country, ranging from working woman to home maker, single or married, with or without children and so on. The motivations for accepting foreign postings are many, and each of the interviewees had their own perspective on how this contributes to their subsequent experiences in their country of temporary residence.
Recurring themes include feelings of disorientation and alienation, sometimes leading to feelings of isolation and powerlessness, but also some more positive themes, such as a sense of expanded horizons, greater curiosity about surrounding environments, and increased tolerance towards difference in general.
The selection of local interviewees reflects the foreign participants in age range, marital status, number of children and whether they work or not. They reveal alternative perspectives on what can be understood by the term foreign, and how one person's rules and constraints can be perceived by another as freedoms.
The contrast in the artworks between the photographic and painted surfaces is intended to reflect these notions of dissonance, whilst establishing a conversation between image and the materiality of paint itself. The gestural nature of the painted marks echoes the transient life of the expatriate; always on the move, never quite still enough to adopt and adapt to new environments.
The audio and filmed components compliment and inform the paintings and give added depth and resonance to the work as a whole.
The audio recordings have been re-recorded from the original transcripts by actors' voices, but the local women volunteered to take part in the project with full knowledge of their visibility as participants in the documentary film shot for this exhibition.
“Your project resonates deeply with me. Perhaps the more you move, the harder it becomes not to disappear, all hard fought efforts to define yourself are lost in shifting sands, and you are left again with a smooth hard surface, waiting for you to draw your mark once again. A chance for renewal?” Subject 17.
“The (Dis-)Appearing Woman” project
Sarah Knill-Jones 2015
Copyright @ Sarah Knill-Jones
But it's not the same for us. We have our mentality, so they should adapt to our rules when they come here…They do whatever they want here.
I think it's normal for a woman to work. What is the matter about this? When they work, they take care of themselves, improve their outlook, adapt to the society, I mean I like such things…
I don't think there're women compared to ours in any other countries, anywhere in the world; in the case of tidiness, hardworking and everything. Our women are number one! (Saida).
You know, foreigners are the ones who mostly rule the roost here than the nationals of Azerbaijan. I mean, they're getting more easily accepted everywhere than us here.
Here you know it's usually preferred to have covered dress code here and there're particular ways that you should behave outside. However, they're so free. As we have our own traditions, husband doesn't let you work. He says if I'm the man of the house, I should work and you should sit at home and do your housewife job….I'm free. When I want to go somewhere they allow me… If only I worked. Because, you know, when a woman works she feels stronger, you get the feeling of standing on your own feet, you feel more ambitious that you're stronger now and nobody can tell anything to you (Zarina).
Because they are grown up with it, with that mentality and we've known them with that mindset. As it's impossible to change us; when we go to abroad should we do the same things that they do there?! The best period started after 2005, since when women got some freedom and gradually, gradually women have started to state their opinions… Yet I don't accept the word “equality” for Azerbaijani women. There is none of it (Hijran).
If I behave properly, act properly and do my job well, then society can tell whatever it wants. I don't care…Every woman should work, should help her family and husband in everything. If the rights of men and women are equal, then men and women should work together to survive today.…Our women, No, they're not equal. Most of our women have a lot of limitations (Shafa).
I have my parents, but generally I'm independent. Married women are dependent on their families (Durdana).
I personally love them too. I'm serious. It doesn't depend on me. I love foreign people very much. Seriously. They're our guests and I don't know why I love them. No matter where we go, we always come back in Azerbaijan. We came back to Azerbaijan (Bilgushe).
Every nation for their own sake should adapt to everything in the environment that they're in. I can say free, but actually women in the family should obey the elders somehow. She's free, she has rights of freedom, but in the family there should be respect toward the elder….Everything is green light for men, they have nice approach.In Azerbaijan, our women… There's equality. Our women and men are equal, rights are the same. I think positively….For example, people who live in abroad are free. They're very… free. But here we have kind of shyness and modesty (Flora).
Everybody has his/her own country, depends on own religion. For example, they're distinguished by their clothing. As you see here clothing is different, they dress the same, but theirs are various, they wear what do they want. They behave how do they want….But I think freedom is a nice thing….After I got married my husband became my boss. You know, when our men love a woman they test her a lot. For foreigners not…No. Their relationships are more ephemeral. But our men test the woman, they make her to quit the job to see how she is, but foreigners not (Sabiyya).
I have an Uzbek friend. Is she considered as a foreigner? In my opinion.. Usually I see on TV when there's a talk about them, they like, loving Azerbaijani people a lot. They say Azerbaijani people are generally…how can I say… they usually…. They say we're hospitable (Gulara).
Also our people love guests very much. Usually we adapt to them in my opinion….Because there's nothing barbarous thing in our customs for someone to be scared of or having fear not coming here. I think everything is normal. I think our traditions is based on humanity; to respect the elders, for youth to know one's place, we have very lovely customs and traditions.
I personally felt limitations toward my appearance. Yes….And all the talent, and all… enthusiasm or all the capabilities of women are left out from the attention and only their appearance is being discussed… No matter how many times it's stated “We're independent! We have equal rights!” there's no such equality and there won't be any. Because man and woman can never be equal. Man and woman have their own statuses. I don't see legal limitations. However, there're unwritten rules in Azerbaijan, which obviously somewhat prevents woman's engagement in public activities and freedom of speech (Dilbar).
I'd like them to accept us positively there, as the way we accept them, but I think there's a little coldness toward us….I'd never prefer to live in any other countries rather than Azerbaijan. I love my Azerbaijan very much. We have very positive rules, everything is awesome (Atlaz).
It depends on them. If they want, they can adapt to our customs. Lots of thing can be obstacle. I mean, the language itself. For example in our country there're some people that they don't like foreigners to be honest.
In my opinion all the married Azerbaijani women pay attention, they're in the center of attention by their family and children. In the case of behavior I strictly watch after my behaviors like how to behave with whom, because there're elders, children, high-class people for example. Even though I'm not an educated woman, I pay attention to them.
Foreign men from other countries present themselves to our women with a manner like“The men of our country are better than yours.” That's why our women love foreign men more. Our men think more positively about the foreign women instead of our women. They want to give all of their friendliness to them. I don't know why having our own beautiful, friendly ladies in our country they prefer foreigners instead (Mahira).
There is no limitation in anything for me. There was nobody who has ever had stipulated anything for me. I do everything based on my own wish. I mean, I wouldn't be together with someone who can stipulate conditions for me. I love freedom…Everybody has his/her own mindset. There're some issues that they should adapt; for example, to legal ones, regulations. No one is obliged to live in a way that any state wants, only the legal issues as I said (Jamila).
Then, if they get adapted to our life and working conditions, working hours, it means they should adapt no matter if they want or not. However, it doesn't mean that they should forget all of their traditions and obey to ours… I don't think language can be a serious obstacle, because English has been considered as a main language now…. I think foreigners don't have difficulties in our country. Why? Because most of our people, a lot of them are very hospitable….In the public sphere compared to past 15-20 years, there're a lot of changes in the women rights. I don't want to go deep in past times, but as we see covered women from old films…We still have covered women, but before it was for a different purpose and now it's because of a different reason. Now, even if the woman has a headscarf she can independently state her opinion. Now, it's very free of course in terms of… I mean in everything you shouldn't go too far.…it is said that foreigners don't get officially married for a long time to know each other better, even till they have a baby. When they're not compatible they can divorce easily ….Even if our men knew the language they would test all the women in the world (Vafa).
We're somehow different. When you go deep in our customs & tradition, protecting the family concept, love of the children; we have such characteristics that for example, I've never seen them in the foreigners….I can say nearly 20 years ago we didn't see these much foreigners. Now we go to downtown and see a lot of foreigners. I personally feel proud…You know, man should be somewhat sacred one at home….As I lived and travelled a lot in a foreign country I saw more… I mean saw more respect towards the foreign woman there (Ilduza).
It's a bit difficult to them to adapt to our traditions. There're difficulties. But they try to come to our side, generally to be like us…to every human his/her own country is dear.
I wear whatever suits me, what I need. If someone doesn't like, then he/she shouldn't look at me. I'm very free with this… I did sport, swimming, went to foreign… Then I got married. The End. I stayed at home as an “aunty” (Irada).
In the streets you can see some foreigners that look at you in a strange way; you feel like you're in their country, not them….The main thing is appearance, now it's like that here. For example the main rule here is you study, get your diploma then you get married (Lala).