Geografia Negata
1984 - Present
Description
This work symbolizes the artist whose right of movement and place is documented officially, but fundamentally denied. By using the visa, or security permit as an object, it exposes how bureaucracy and the security of borders become a tight control mechanism and a tool for political order and control. Although the paper seems to represent freedom, it signals permission or restricted freedom. The heavy black paint and the erasure mirror the political reality, where recognition exists, but only to be withdrawn; the person does exist, but is nullified. In this case, the visible becomes invisible in geografia negata.
Artist Notes
In 2007, I applied for a Jordanian visa from Gaza. It took them more than a year to process my visa. I was already in Europe. I kept the visa with me, and after 19 years, it became more relevant than before. I went back to Jordan after I became a Swedish citizen, and since then, I use my Swedish passport, but still, if I use my Palestinian passport, all geographies became negated and forbidden, suddenly.
