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fofa_082011
April 4 – 29, 2011
vernissage, Wednesday, April 6,
17h screening followed by reception 18h - 20h
Came Like Water, Like Wind I Go
Aydin Matlatbi
York Corridor Vitrines
[in-tur-pri-tey-shunz]
AbTeC (Jason Lewis and Skawennati Tricia Fragnito)
Héloïse Audy
Khadija Baker
Main Gallery/Black Box/St. Catherine Street Vitrine
VITRINE
Came Like Water, Like Wind I Go
: Aydin Matlabi
My project addresses the monumental revolution that has shocked
the Islamic world. I traveled to Iran, to my birthplace, in search
of images that depict a people with a rebellious spirit, images
that span four generations of Iranians, images of a modern Iran
and the harrowing struggles the country faces. Upon my arrival
I was greeted by people who were excitedly anticipating the elections,
their excitement stemming from the emergence of hope for democracy.
Crowds of smiling faces were chanting and breaking into song,
they were dancing in plain view in a country that has a history
of repressing such public displays. People emerged from seclusion,
gathered and formed crowds since the first time in thirty years
they felt they would have a say in the outcome of the elections.
They felt they would have a say in the future of their country,
a say that would bring about change. However, their voices remained
stifled. I soon realized that my country was to revisit a violent
chapter that had become all too familiar in its history.
I did not expect such cruelty and brutality. I did not expect
what some have called a revolution. Least of all, I did not think
that I would take part in a revolution. I raised my arm up high,
my fist pumping in protest, and marched in silence. I was surrounded
by a swarm of arms extended skywards, arms that swayed, arms
that could carry one away. Hands that punched the air with tight
fists, hands that held peace signs and camera phones, surrounded
me. The crowds raised their arms believing that change was within
their grasp and reached out to Iran, to the West and the rest
of the world. I marched along with the swarm of demonstrators
and among them I became a part of them. I was no longer attempting
to maintain a certain partiality as a photographer trailing its
subject. Instead I kept up in stride as we walked side by side,
and by doing so I became an outlaw in my own country. Since it
was illegal for any foreign correspondents to document or participate
in the demonstrations, I became the only western photographer
who dared to break with the law and witness the uprising.
As a result of my actions, I was forced to leave my motherland
permanently. Arriving back in Montreal, I was left with the dissolute
impression. However circling back to my experience and research,
I realized I had in hand a unique document that shed light on
conflicting ideologies, the overt impact of religion on the reality
of everyday life in Iran. Sensing the need to create a visual
position in defense of a nation without a voice and a critical
look into a country that has been closed to the world for over
three decades, I would like to present this visual narrative
of Iran: Came Like Water, Like Wind I Go
Aydin Matlabi
aydinmatlabi.com
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