I hope that you can come to my exhibition here in Uster on the 15th of April!



And They Called Themselves The Europeans
A Multimedia Installation
10 March – 22 May 2014
Reception 15 April at 19:00
Poststrasse 3-5
Uster 8610
Switzerland


And They Called Themselves The Europeans is the outdoor multimedia installation by AKKU (http://www.akkuuster.ch/) artist in residence Damaso Reyes currently on display in Uster through the 22nd of May. The installation consists of two separate but interrelated pieces: Some Europeans is a 30 minute projection featuring over sixty black and white photographs taken throughout Europe over the course of eight years. A Day In The Life Of Europe is a 60 minute audio piece comprised of ambient sound, music and interviews collected by the artist during his travels in Europe. Spoken languages in the piece include English, German, Spanish, Catalan, Turkish, French and Ukrainian.

The installation is a glimpse of Reyes' ongoing photographic documentary project The Europeans which is exploring how Europe and its people are changing as the European Union expands and integrates. Begun in 2005 the project seeks to question and expand the definition of who is a European as well as how Europeans see themselves and each other.

Through the sounds and images in this installation visitors have an opportunity to visit places and hear the voices of people they would otherwise never encounter. From a Catalan independence demonstration in Barcelona to a worship service of Pentecostal Christians in Kiev And They Called Themselves The Europeans offers a unique visual and aural perspective on the transformations taking place across the continent. Through the images presented we see the faces of Europe from immigrants and asylum seekers to politicians and soldiers. In this work Reyes takes us on a visual exploration of Europe in distinctly human terms. By listening to the audio we hear the stories of both immigrants and their children as well as the sounds of nature and celebration. Though the works run simultaneously the sounds and images are not directly linked which allows for interesting conflations as the two pieces loop throughout the day and night.

Uster, Switzerland

Because you never know when you'll need one!

Uster, Switzerland

Uster, Switzerland

Uster, Switzerland

Greetings from Switzerland. I'm just outside of Zurich where I am serving at the AKKU artist in residence!


It should be an interesting stay!

Along the coast...

It's amazing what you come across in small towns...

“I always felt like a foreigner even if my mother was German,” Oguz Yenen tells me over tea in Istanbul. He was born in Germany and became a successful director there but moved to Istanbul more than a decade ago.

What is the perfect antidote to spending two months in bustling Istanbul? How about a month in tiny Ålvik, which is exactly what I did last month. Over the coming days I’ll be sharing my images so you can get a taste of life in the fjords!

Jülide Yaşar Soncu grew up in France but moved to Istanbul and started a small business. “I didn’t want to live in a country that doesn’t give equality of chance,” Jülide recalls of what began motivating her to look beyond France.

Haydar Zorlu reached the top in Germany as an actor but decided to move to Istanbul to pursue his creative freedom.



“I was, and I am, part of two countries. In my case there is no difference and no border between both. I thought it was normal until I was about thirty-five,” he says with a laugh.

For my latest profile from Sweden we turn to an Iranian born member of Parliament to broaden our perspective on the immigrant experience.

You can read the first profile I’ve written about Swedes of Turkish descent on Forbes.com!



Mikail was born in Sweden yet still doesn't feel Swedish.

Starting today you can see what I’ve been up to over the past few months. Check out Forbes.com and start reading my latest series exploring the lives of Europeans of Turkish descent as they try to find a place in Europe’s social fabric.

Istanbul



Democracy requires dissent.