"I Had a Dream"
Installation/Sound Installation
2023
The project "I had a dream" explores the notorious Saydnaya prison in the north of Damascus, known for its extreme sensory deprivation. Through a book published by the Association of Detainees and Missing Persons in Saydnaya Prison (ADMSP), containing 14 collected testimonies from survivors, the project explores the hidden horror of this place and the transformative power of sound, silence and listening.
"I Had a Dream" opens the door for the audience to the harrowing reality of Saydnaya Prison. The installation, which immerses the viewer in the oppressive acoustics of the prison, amplifies the voices of the survivors and creates space for reflection and empathy.
The installation shows the paradoxical role of sound and hearing as a means of control, but also the impressive resilience of the unjustly imprisoned. The project illuminates the dual function of sound, silence and listening and deals with the light and shadow sides of the same phenomenon.
Installation view, "I had a Dream", Ludwigstr.60, Saarbrücken, 2023
Installation view, "I had a Dream", xpon-art, Hamburg, 2023
Credit: Helge Mundt