Initiated by EMIRHAKIN and curated in tandem with Claudio Ritfeld, Remarkable Meetings with Disgusting Men reflects on (self-)censorship as a highly tangible experience, ████ proposing ways for maneuvering through fear. ██████ ████ █ ███, ████. In this exhibition, the strategies of oppressive regimes and their bodily implications are explored, subverted, ██████ and reappropriated through a careful spatial choreography. How does political coercion permeate the personal, infiltrate bodily boundaries, and shape our ███████████? EMIRHAKIN has invited a group of artists to reconfigure the symbols and strategies associated with fear and oppression—holding space to reflect on the erasure of choice, identity, agency, and life within heavily politicized structures.

Informed by ██ personal experiences as a █████████████, EMIRHAKIN’s practice █████ and visualizes the personal, ███████, and physical consequences of (self-)censorship while simultaneously paving a pathway for vulnerability and resilience. EMIRHAKIN investigates the intricate connections between the political, religious, and sexual systems of power. By stripping down and uncovering the workings of oppressive █████, he questions whether censorship can be considered ██████████ and ████ ████ █████. Attempting to not only offer coping mechanisms, he fosters resilience and counter strategies as forms of █████████ as resistance.

In biweekly performances, EMIRHAKIN reflects on the █████ and ███ of ████ life under suppression—delving deeper into the ideological construct of masculinity that profoundly influenced his experiences and identity. Structured around mysticism, numerological theories around the █████████, and the intricate bodily figurations (in religious ████ or ritual) created by following the circle as a shape, he brings the ███████ men that shaped him ███ ██ ███.

The artists in this group exhibition grapple with the complexities of censorship through their diverse positionalities and viewpoints, making visible how these tactics disseminate beyond borders. In doing so, they confront topics that are deemed sacrosanct by the established systems of power. Through their works, the artists uncover the fragile pillars upholding systems of injustice and suppression, ███ ██ █████ █████ ██ ████, touching upon untouchable subjects and placing them in the space as sensorial gestures and bodily encounters. Taking shape through video works, archival footage, performances, sound and light installations, and paintings, the exhibition navigates the manufacturing of (cultural) identity, nationalism, the impact of censorship, and life under authoritarian regimes. ██ ███████ ████ ███████ ████████-███.

Witnessing the rise of the right-wing and its effect on the freedom of expression, Remarkable Meetings with Disgusting Men invites you to traverse the complexities of contemporary political realities, in the shadows of systems of manipulation, commodification, ██████ ████████ and racialization. The exhibition will be accompanied by an extensive context programme of performances, movie screenings, and a night of storytelling. Providing moments for █████, resilience, and vulnerability, this exhibition responds to both the contemporary political reality of ██████ and the worldwide wielding of censorship—in its seemingly different forms but similar venom—into every lived reality.

Participating artists: Andreas Tegnander & Ossip Blits, Batuhan Keskiner, Can Demren, EMIRHAKIN, ghenwa noiré, Jonas Lerch, Ksenia Yurkova, Mohammed Tatour and Zalán Szakács.

Context programme with: Başak Layiç, Elif Satanaya Özbay, Ghaith Kween Qoutainy and Sipan Sezgin Tekin.

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Exhibition initiated by EMIRHAKIN

At W139, we work collectively and intersectionally on exhibitions—guided and led by the initiating artists that we invite. This exhibition has been developed by the artistic team, with Claudio Ritfeld leading the process, together with Tomas Adolfs, André Avelãs, Ana Brichta, Dana Claasen, Levi van Gelder, Dil Ghale, Geer van der Klugt, Macarena Magaña, Margarita Osipian, Ghaith Kween Qoutainy, and Annette Wolfsberger.

Visual Identity by EMIRHAKIN and Fadi Houmani.

This exhibition is generously supported by: Gieskes-Strijbis Fund, Mondriaan Fund, Creative Industries Fund NL, Stadt Wien, Amarte Fund, Goethe Instituut and Oedipus Brewing.

Digital handout Remarkable Meetings with Disgusting Men

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Remarkable Meetings with Disgusting MenInitiated by EMIRHAKIN

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Remarkable Meetings with Disgusting Men
Initiated by EMIRHAKIN