Iranian artist Mojo Khakbaz presents us with the interactive idea of being a part of her artworks. Photographs etched onto mirrored glass of women along with lines from their story.
Kakbaz invites you to participate in her exhibition through after observation of her works, you also observe your own reactions to each work, your emotions, your interpretation becomes a part of the exhibition ergo 'you are she and she is you'.
There is also an opportunity for the audience to take a 'selfie' in one of the blank mirrors as well as to contribute lines from our own story.
It's a beautifully emotive exhibition and is thought provoking. A moment in time where your feelings are not only validated but you get to walk briefly in someone else's shoes. You get to be a part of another woman's story. In turn, validating their feelings. Accepting their stories and understanding those stories based on your own life experiences, your own feelings at that moment in time. Your own empathy.
All of Khakbaz's images are of women and in each work face you front on. Confronting you to bear witness to their age, their lifestyle, their history, religion, politics and choices. All on the united landscape of mirrored glass. Which initiates your interaction, by including your gaze incidentally in each work.
Khakbaz is currently a student at UQ. I believe that these works early on in her career are indicative of great things to come. The sense of personal empowerment that each woman in the works possesses, Her/She/They're self-possession and true belief in who they are is a feat that this is captured in a photographs along with outlines of their personal journeys.
I thoroughly enjoyed how my own feelings of empowerment were enhanced while being an audience to this exhibition. It is well worth the visit to the Valley to see and be a part of this show.
"You are She and She is You" is on at the beautiful Jugglers Arts Space in Fortitude Valley from 16 February 2018 until 27 February 2018.
By Justine Hansberry