In Other Words
Conversations with artists about language and migration
Fenix invites artists who, like Slavs and Tatars, draw inspiration from language and migration in their work. They talk about their own art and the stories behind it: from the history of Bukharian Jews to Uyghur myths and the legendary folk philosopher Molla on his donkey.
Payam Sharifi over Molla en Molla’s Reverse Ride
Saturday 21 November 2026
Molla, the legendary trickster and folk philosopher who is often depicted riding his donkey backwards, has appeared in stories across different cultures for more than seven hundred years. During In Other Words, Payam Sharifi explains how this figure appears in Molla’s Reverse Ride and in the work of Slavs and Tatars.
After the talk, visit Mouthfool together with Payam.
Image: Payam Sharifi
Aitan Ebrahimoff on Hungry Host and Shot Host
Sunday 24 January 2027
Aitan Ebrahimoff’s great-grandparents secretly practised Judaism in Iran. Starting from their story, his film lecture Hungry Host traces the history of the Bukharian Jews, one of Central Asia’s oldest ethnoreligious communities.
After the lecture, visit Shot Host (2026), on view in All Directions.
Still from Hungry Host (2027)
Darya Andijan on Uyghur family histories and language
Sunday 21 February 2027
What does it mean to speak a language that is censored? Drawing on her own family history, Darya Andijan talks about Uyghur language and culture. In her work, she uses storytelling, film and poetry to preserve memories and histories that are under threat.
After the talk, visit Mouthfool together with Darya, where Uyghur language and identity feature in the exhibition.
Image: Darya Andijan
Dina Danish on translation, misunderstandings and meaning
Sunday 14 March 2027
Two typewriters type towards each other: one from left to right in the Latin alphabet, the other from right to left in Arabic script. Letter by letter, they move closer together. What happens when the two writing systems meet?
During In Other Words, Dina Danish talks about her fascination with words that cross borders. Afterwards, visit her video artwork Type Sonate in All Directions together with her.
Discover Slavs and Tatars: Mouthfool
Language pays no attention to borders. It travels with people, changes along the way and leaves traces wherever it goes. In the exhibition Mouthfool artist collective Slavs and Tatars uses humour, wordplay and absurd imagery to show how language migrates: from mouth to mouth, from generation to generation.
Dive deeper into Mouthfool after the presentation. Your ticket also gives you access to Fenix’s other exhibitions.
