Protection Spell
Solo Exhibition
Diren Demir
May 3rd – May 7th 2022
Pallas Gallery, Tartu / Estonia

The “Protection Spell” exhibition reflects sections of the lives of Ukrainian refugees. Traditional Motanka dolls at the center of the exhibition shed light to the cultural heritage of the region. According to the old talismans and spell recipes, Motankas had different purposes depending on their colours. Red, stands in the exhibition as the symbol of the ‘protection”. In this reinterpreted spelll, human sized doll stands against deliberate attacks on the cultural values of the people.

Exhibition highlights the feelings and thoughts that displaced people reveal due to the uncertainties in the face of a war. Sound portraits collected from the subjects of the war documents the destruction. Establishing a mental and archetypal, vocal and imaginary communication channel, the mutual dialogue between the works had been set…