BEDTIME, KAROLINA GRZYWNOWICZ
Friday 22 November 2024
3:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Palazzo Contarini Polignac
Dorsoduro 874, 30123 Venice
Listening session featuring Palestinian lullabies
Bedtime is a listening session featuring Palestinian lullabies recorded by Karolina Grzywnowicz. These songs serve as both sources of comfort and expressions of resilience
against oppressive forces that seek to erase cultural identity and dreams. They reflect the strength of communities living in refugee camps such as Aida, Dheisheh, and Qalandiya, where tear gas and violence are daily realities.
The recordings intertwine ambient sounds from the camps—conversations and laughter—with the lullabies, grounding them in everyday life. The inherent imperfections in these recordings testify to the ongoing struggle to reclaim lost traditions amidst conflict.
This project highlights the voices of women singing lullabies infused with profound nostalgia for their homeland, as well as the harsh conditions of displacement. The songs weave together personal and collective narratives, creating a rich tapestry of sound that echoes the pain of separation while nurturing aspirations for a brighter future.
Bedtime stands as a political statement against sleep deprivation as a form of torture, illustrating how these lullabies embody collective resilience in the face of oppression. They challenge narratives of silence and reinforce the enduring spirit of resistance.
By amplifying Palestinian voices, the artist invites listeners to engage with their lived experiences, reflecting on the importance of memory, dreams, and dignity. In their pursuit of preserving their identity, singing these lullabies transforms into a powerful act of resistance.
Artist Bio
Karolina Grzywnowicz is a visual artist whose work bridges contemporary art, research, and activism. Her works deal with plants in social and political contexts, often of a violent nature. She perceives the landscape as a living archive in which traces of past events are recorded. Her methodology involves working with specialists across various disciplines e.g. botanists, soil researchers, hydrologists, and local people to allow for a space of interaction and exchange of knowledge. She is currently working on a project about the politics of planting, plants used to camouflage violence, and exploring scent as a tool of micro resistance and healing. She is interested in the practices of weak resistance, everyday activities, and seemingly unnoticed gestures that have the power to resist oppression. She works in various media: installation, sculpture, and video; she creates situations and art interventions. She lives in Berlin and works internationally.