“Not Toward the Sun but Myself a Sun. On global migration and artistic practice”. This was the motto for Filomena Mairosse´s talk during the public event held at AiR 351 on June 24.
The title draws inspiration from Ousmane Sembene’s iconic interview where he clarifies his relationship to Europe, asserting it as not his center nor the center of his work – famously proclaiming “l’Europe n´est pas mon centre” (Europe is not my center) – and emphasizing his position at the center of his own work, being not the sunflower which turns toward the source of light but the source of light himself – stating “Je suis moi même le soleil” (I am myself the sun).
Filomena Mairosse (she/her, b. 1992) is an interdisciplinary artist born and living in Maputo, Mozambique. She works primarily with photography, writing, video, analog collage, and botanical transfers, and explores themes around reimagining realities, belonging, consumption, interdependence, and nature. She started photographing more intentionally in 2018 and eventually developed her own style of semi-abstract and conceptual images.
Filomena was in residency at AiR 351 from March 20 until June 30 with the support of DGARTES (Apoio a projectos 2021. Artes Visuais, Criação e Edição).
Drop us a line if you relate to this topic (info@air351.art).
mpisarcik.com
(program)
(residency)