The wail of an air raid siren played on the cello, set the tone for the collective lecture performance that took place at the Joslyn Art Museum on Nov. 3, which, orchestrated by artist Hayv Kahraman, reflected on displacement and the immigrant experience. 

Kahraman left Iraq when she was 11 years old during the first Gulf War. Her paintings refer to memories from those and subsequent years as an immigrant in Sweden and later the United States.

Five women took turns going to the front to read Kahraman’s memories in the darkened room. Each memory was combined with its corresponding paintings being shown on the screen behind them. 

 “One of the things is just to get an understanding of what’s behind the artwork; I really enjoyed that” said John McIntyre, an art collector and co-founder of Random Arts Omaha. “Because I look at it and I project my own things onto it. But to hear the story is much more impactful. It exposes you to something that you normally wouldn’t be exposed to.” 

According to a news release, Kahraman’s artwork contemplates the “psychological and physical repercussions of being displaced from home,” drawing on Renaissance painting, illuminated manuscripts and Japanese woodblock printing, and combining those with wartime propaganda and combat manuals.  

Karin Campbell, the curator of contemporary art at Joslyn believes Kahraman’s work is timely and relevant and hopes that it will lead to better conversation.

 “[I hope there is] a willingness to reject the vitriol and the fear mongering and the hatred that we’ve seen spewed out of a lot of places over the last 18 months,” Campbell said. “But I think it’s really just about prying open those conversations; being willing to realize that there is common ground with people who may seem different.” 

That seemed to be on the minds of those who attended the event as well, as Kahraman’s memories of her childhood in war-torn Iraq impacted viewers of the performance and the gallery. 

“I think it is really powerful and really strong for Americans to understand when you’re being displaced,” said Xuan Pham, a viewer at the exhibit. “All Americans don’t have the struggle that a refugee or immigrant has being that whole identity of being displaced is so important. And so it’s hard to translate and she does it so well.”

Hayv Kahraman’s artwork will be displayed at Joslyn in its Riley Contemporary Artists Project Gallery until January 8.