Whispers

In her solo exhibition Whispers, presented as part of the 9th Triennial of Photography Hamburg, the artist Melike Kara explores themes of identity, memory and transformation. The starting point is her engagement with her Kurdish heritage, which she has archived and worked with artistically over recent years. The focus is on revealing the beauty of Kurdish traditions – beyond pain and persecution. The title refers to a form of presence that is not dominant. A whisper is audible without being intrusive; it demands closeness and attention. The expansive installation transforms the exhibition space into a living landscape of ash, water, painting and plants. Transience, loss and new beginnings flow into one another.

The exhibition is complemented by two holiday workshops – onde for children and one for teenagers. The workshops encourage reflection on the question: “What happens when the stories we tell ourselves about our origins become less prominent?” The participants reflect on their ideas of origin and memory, sharpen their awareness of materiality and small details, and express their own stories and wishes creatively.