Tara Abdullah Mohammed Sharif
Tara Abdullah’s work focuses on the experiences of women in Iraqi Kurdistan, the region where she grew up, confronting the violence they endure while also highlighting their stories of emancipation.
The installation In-Between is an exploration of the role of women in resistance and reconstruction, especially in the aftermath of war. The work features metal boundary sheets from war-torn regions in Ukraine. These materials still bear the scars of war, but also symbolize resilience and the will to rebuild. Many women have already left their mark on these sheets — visible or not — but for this installation, they have also been invited to add new messages, or sketches emphasizing the collective labor needed for renewal.
The sound of Kurdish wailing, a traditional expression of grief and resilience, accompanies the physical elements. This wailing, performed by Kurdish women during times of war and following the loss of loved ones and lands, serves as a healing melody. Played through speakers embedded in the installation, the sound underscores the bravery of women who use their voices to heal. The wailing has however been suppressed in Kurdistan due to occupation by neighboring countries and the imposition of Islamic ideologies, which seek to erase both cultural identity and individual thought. Women, who are the main victims of this cultural suppression, have been silenced, and the tradition of wailing has not been passed down for two generations.
In-Between critiques societal norms that associate strength and endurance with men while relegating softness and domesticity to women. By using heavy, industrial materials traditionally linked to masculinity, Tara challenges these gendered perceptions. In-Between also offers a narrow yet powerful path, revealing glimpses of strength and reconstruction that emerge in the face of disaster, creating dialogue between the women of Ukraine and Kurdistan through their shared experiences of resilience.
Tara Abdullah’s work focuses on the experiences of women in Iraqi Kurdistan, the region where she grew up, confronting the violence they endure while also highlighting their stories of emancipation.
The installation In-Between is an exploration of the role of women in resistance and reconstruction, especially in the aftermath of war. The work features metal boundary sheets from war-torn regions in Ukraine. These materials still bear the scars of war, but also symbolize resilience and the will to rebuild. Many women have already left their mark on these sheets — visible or not — but for this installation, they have also been invited to add new messages, or sketches emphasizing the collective labor needed for renewal.
The sound of Kurdish wailing, a traditional expression of grief and resilience, accompanies the physical elements. This wailing, performed by Kurdish women during times of war and following the loss of loved ones and lands, serves as a healing melody. Played through speakers embedded in the installation, the sound underscores the bravery of women who use their voices to heal. The wailing has however been suppressed in Kurdistan due to occupation by neighboring countries and the imposition of Islamic ideologies, which seek to erase both cultural identity and individual thought. Women, who are the main victims of this cultural suppression, have been silenced, and the tradition of wailing has not been passed down for two generations.
In-Between critiques societal norms that associate strength and endurance with men while relegating softness and domesticity to women. By using heavy, industrial materials traditionally linked to masculinity, Tara challenges these gendered perceptions. In-Between also offers a narrow yet powerful path, revealing glimpses of strength and reconstruction that emerge in the face of disaster, creating dialogue between the women of Ukraine and Kurdistan through their shared experiences of resilience.
Special prize
Commenting on Tara Abdullah Mohammed Sharif as the winner of the special prize, the Jury said:
“With a bold, fearless focus on the public space, Tara Abdullah Mohammed Sharif engages directly with the war in Ukraine, bridging it to her own experience as a Kurdish woman in Iraq. By creating a participatory installation where women affected by war are encouraged to come together and leave their mark, her work reflects the friction between violence and healing; speaking more broadly to women’s role in resistance across different geographies and times.”
