Nationalism, exile and agony in contemporary art

Abstract

In this thesis, I have investigated matter of body and image in contemporary art regarding the concepts of nationalism, migration and exile. The thesis case study is the Middle-East and its contemporary art practice within its own socio political context and/or outside its geography (mainly Europe).

Furthermore, to comprehend the connection between nationalism and contemporary art, I have investigated the power structure between the politics of the State or nation-state in national and global level, with the contemporary art and its agencies. Main questions of the research have been: What sort of relationship exists between nationalism and contemporary art and to what extent? What are the cases in which it has been misused/overused in contemporary art, meaningfully regarding the concepts of migration and the otherness?

In answer to these questions I have explored how knowledge production directly affects matter of representation and the image, and in order to prevent the false presumptions based on it, one needs to perceive the artwork beyond its autobiographical or historical context. I have stepped forward by expressing through my artistic practice in public place, in different societies including Iran, Finland and Norway. In addition, I have used my body as a “site” for all changes, memories and interrelation with the people in the society. I attempted to create the dialogue by my presence in different societies under different geopolitical and sociocultural condition.