Constellations of Multiple Wishes

About

Co-curated with Bojana Piškur, the exhibition brings together archival materials, existing and newly commissioned works that connect peripheral geographies, agitating relationships between time and memory.

Derived from the principles of the 1955 Afro–Asian Conference in Bandung, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) mobilised a desire for an alternative to the two dominant power blocks during the Cold War. Born in 1961 out of the liberation and independence movements across the globe, its ideology was rooted in anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism, anti-racism and anti-capitalism. It sought to initiate infrastructures of cultural equality and expansive networks of cooperation and solidarity.

Although significantly distinct, our shared present remains burdened by deep divisions and increasing global inequalities. Though NAM continues to exist now with 120 member states, it has lost its significance and resemblance to the 1960s movement and its intentions. Avoiding the allure of nostalgia, Constellations of Multiple Wishes is inspired by the notion of ‘potential history.’ A form of being and thinking with others both living and past across time, using it to reactivate ideas, and counter the politics and poetics of memory. The exhibition refuses the position of historian; it loops, repeats, rewinds and forwards, acting as a conduit for shared ideas.

Alongside archival materials, the exhibition will include works by contemporary artists such as Larry Achiampong, Nika Autor, Alia Farid, KURS, Basim Magdy, and feature a small selection of works from The Art of Non-aligned Collection Labratory, including works by Inji Aflatoun and Choukri Mesli, among others.

As The Mosaic Rooms celebrates its 15th year, this exhibition opens a yearlong programme that interrogates active solidarity, support structures and alternative models of self-organisation and collaboration.

More details: https://mosaicrooms.org/event/constellations-of-multiple-wishes/