Iman Tajik

WHERE THE BODY MEETS THE LAND

Where The Body Meets the Land

Using his artwork as a tool to weld together trauma and awareness, Iman Tajik brings his frustration to the fore with jarring silence in his performance piece entitled ‘ Where the Body Meets the Land ’. In an almost unwavering manner, Tajik will create an indented space as he paces hundreds of thousands of times from a flag pole, buried in the sand, hoisting up a shimmering gold emergency blanket, to the seashore and back. This act of line making refers to the thousands of refugees and migrants that have disembarked, including those that did not survive, onto UK shores.

In his research, Tajik explores the notion of the emergency blanket as an allegory for both the past and the future, not only for those who have experienced forced displacement, but also those to be displaced due to imminent climate change. The emergency blanket as a flag is additionally used as a tool to critique nationalism and comment on people’s incessant attachment to this coloured item of fabric.

The durational performance, which will take place on 26th and 27th September (12-4pm), will be accompanied by posters and text, which will also be sitespecific (at Pipe Street Toilet outdoor walls). Together these elements aim to create a dialogue to reflect on privilege and the restlessness between land and sea.

Commissioned by Art Walk Porty for 'ALL AT SEA' 2020

https://artmag.co.uk/art-walk-porty-all-at-sea-and-iman-tajiks-where-the-body-meets-the-land/