MAIIIM presents Stone XXL, the innovative performance by Iranian artist Bahar Heidarzade
Genoa - MAIIIM (Media Art III Millennium) Multimedia Art Center will amaze Genoa with an extraordinary event next Monday, Sept. 11, presenting the one-of-a-kind performance, Stone XXL, created by eclectic Iranian artist Bahar H.
The city of Genoa is preparing to be the stage for this exciting performance, which will unfold through a picturesque route in the heart of the historic center. Departure is scheduled from the picturesque Old Port, precisely from Porta Siberia, at 4:30 p.m., with a conclusion scheduled for 7 p.m. at MAIIIM, located at 6 Dinegro Square.
For those who wish to follow the stages of the event in real time, MAIIIM will provide detailed updates on its Facebook page, allowing the public to follow the artist closely throughout the entire journey.
Bahar Heidarzade's performance, titled Stone XXL, represents an act of sharing and participation, conveying the idea of collective liberation from a shared emotional burden.
In this performance, the artist engages in carrying a boulder along the streets of the city, a gesture that stems from a deep reflection on the international tensions between Iran and the United States, which returned to the spotlight in May 2018.
At that crucial moment, Bahar Heidarzade began collecting foreign newspapers containing news related to his native country. He then subjected these pages to a process of metamorphosis, submerging them in water to rid them of the ink of words, thus transforming them into a unique sculptural material. Using the papier-mâché technique, he covered a lightweight iron structure with this extraordinary mixture of water and paper, a material that has distant origins in the world of information. The contrast between the boulder's physical lightness and the deep emotional heaviness it symbolizes becomes the focus of the performance.
By carrying this boulder through the streets of the city, Bahar Heidarzade wishes to share the burden arising from the fragility of geopolitical relationships and their impact on social dynamics. All who come across the path will have the opportunity to join this performance, embracing a collective story and sharing the emotion it evokes. The symbolism of the light boulder and its shared burden transforms a personal pain into an issue of universal concern, through an act that requires daily fortitude and resilience.
Bahar Heidarzade was born in Tehran in 1981, at a time marked by the Revolution that transformed Iran from a monarchy into a Shiite Islamic Republic. Despite her introverted nature, from a young age she sought to express her feelings and emotions through art, devoting herself to painting and drawing. This passion has accompanied her throughout her life. However, in a restrictive environment like Iran, she faced many challenges in order to express her creativity and female identity. Her move to Turin in 2013 allowed her to freely explore different forms of artistic expression at the Accademia Albertina, from painting to sculpture.
Today, Bahar Heidarzade is recognized for her performances and installations, which are tools of political engagement and a form of disruptive communication. Her personal story of struggle and rebirth has become a source of inspiration for many people. As she continues to advance her message through art, Bahar Heidarzade has never forgotten her roots and her desire for freedom.
We conclude with the hope that Bahar Heidarzade's Stone XXL event will bring reflection and sharing within the Genoese community, uniting people through art and human sensitivity.