Year: 2010

Three-part instalation

Work consists of three elements: photographic collage 95x95cm (c-print), sound source (headphones) with two-channel audio track and a 14 inch TV set with a looped video material.

Collage is a combination of portraits of 2 women: Annelise Michel and Sakineh Mohamadi Asztiani.

Some publications in the German media have recognized trial on Anneliese Michel as the most important - after Nuremberg Trials in Europe. The trial was held in 1978 in Aschaffenburg. Court verdict was referring to causes of the death of 24-year-old German, who died in unclear circumstances as a result of demonic possession. Previously she was subjected to lasting more than two years of exorcisms. (more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anneliese_Michel)

The Sakineh Mohamadi Asztiani case is pending in the northwest of Iran since 2006. 43-year-old woman was sentenced to death for complicity in the assassination of her husband and to stoning to death for the adultery. In 2007, the death penalty in the firstcase, was exchanged for 10 years of the prison but the second sentence was maintained. In July 2010 human rights organizations brought this case to the public and brought a wave of protests in the West.

Many countries appealed for the cancellation of the stoning penalty. Although Iran authorities claim that for several years execution of such judgments was suspended, unofficial sources claim otherwise.

Next part of the wrok is an audio track available only through headphones. It’s a combination of two audio tracks. In the right channel there is fragment of exorcism of Annelise Michel.

In the left channel there is a part of Tagesschau - german news from ARD television - about the subject of Sakineh Asztiani.

Video material is a looped combination of portraits of Annelise Michel and Susan Daubner - news anchor from german ARD TV.