Nishtman

Nishtman
Photo-Text Book 14.85 x 21cm
2022-2023

"Nishtman" is the culmination of my practice during my Master study, exploring the political aspects of language. I delve into questions about language as a political tool, resistance, and its suppression capacity.

Moreover, I analyze the significance of writing slogans on walls as a form of resistance and as a political performance. The act of writing mottos on walls, a form of popular resistance, is examined, highlighting its symbolic and practical significance. This physical engagement with the city, also integrated into the performance art itself. Through this physical enactment, inscribing mottos with their body, the dweller not only convey the symbolic and practical significance of this resistance tactic but also highlight the bodily toll of resistance movements. This is the moment that the marginalized bodies of a society will break the rules and take over the city.

Through the multi-layered approach in two different styles of writing separated in two chapters, I aim to evoke a visceral experience that challenges perceptions of boundaries and invites viewers to engage with the complex interplay between personal narratives and collective experiences within the context of geopolitical borders.

In terms of structure, I arrive at the format of a book where each individual has the liberty to choose their point of entry, how to continue and read the story, and determine where, or if, they conclude their exploration. It gives multiple approaches and multiple stories to be read. A reading economy for the photo book positions the reader as equal to the maker, offering a fixed object for potential conversation.

My personal reflections and observations, along with the collaboration with my friends to have access to visual documentations, contribute to the analysis.
"Nishtman" blends research and art, reflecting my journey in understanding the intricate relationship between language, politics, and culture.

Nishtman
Photo-Text Book 14.85 x 21cm
2023