In this artist talk, we'll explore the idea that art spaces should prioritize care alongside creative expression. Drawing from my experiences and my work with Radical Care Lab, we'll discuss how artists contribute essential labor and why art spaces are collective endeavors, not favors. We’ll question the responsibilities of curators and space holders, contemplating their impact on the art world and society. Emphasizing that care begins with effective communication, this dialogue seeks to ignite a collective exchange of thoughts rather than present conclusive answers. This talk aims to spark a collective exchange, not provide answers. Let us collaboratively envision and construct art spaces grounded in care and mutual respect, actively shaping the future through open and inclusive dialogue.
Zarahlena is a Berlin-based Mexican-German transdisciplinary artist. Her artistic practice encompasses photography, performance art, and installation. By emphasizing embodiment through these mediums, her work acts as a platform for creative, spiritual, and social exploration, aiming to address the injustices and conflicts deeply rooted in the body.
She examines issues such as feminicide and gender-based violence in Latin America; the disconnection between human beings and nature that leads to ecological crises; and the need for radical practices of care.
Embracing performance art in recent years, Zarahlena's pieces have graced galleries, public spaces, festivals, clubs, and notable venues like the Pergamon Museum and Tempelhof Airport in Berlin. In 2022, she co-founded the Radical Care Lab, a collective passionately exploring the theme of care across Berlin, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, Tbilisi, Georgia, and the digital realm.
Beyond her individual artistry, Zarahlena takes on curator and event organizer roles at bpb Gallery in Berlin's historic Nikolaiviertel. Her multifaceted contributions extend beyond personal artistic endeavours, embodying a commitment to fostering dialogues, challenging societal norms, and cultivating a culture of care within both her artistic and organizational roles.
Rita Adib is an interdisciplinary artist and architect born and raised in Damascus, Syria. She holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from Damascus University and a BFA majoring in sculpture from Concordia University in Montreal. Currently divides her time between Berlin and Beirut.
Her artistic practice is deeply rooted in social and political activism addressing oppression, displacement, and borders particularly through the lens of intersectional discrimination.
Informed by her background in architecture and sculpture, Rita's work probes the concept of public space, questioning its definition and accessibility, particularly within our hierarchical patriarchal systems. She designs interactive public instruments challenging conventional notions of engagement and the traditional art-audience correlation.
In addition to the physical artwork, Rita has ventured into the digital realm as an alternative form of public space, utilizing two-dimensional illustrations and comics to address pressing socio-political issues, using her work to amplify politically and socially engaged voices in the Arab world.
Her work has been displayed in solo and group exhibitions in Beirut, Montreal, and various public sites in Canada and the UK. She has participated in art residencies in Montreal, Belfast, Riga, and Berlin, and received grants from organizations such as the Montreal Art Council (Canada), British Council (Middle East), Ettijahat Independent Cultures (Brussels), and Akademie der Kunste (Berlin). Rita has also spoken at artist talks and podcasts, including "Trajectoires" by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA).
