Selma Selman
Over the last 100 years or so the Roma people were collecting scrap metal, recycling it. It’s only recently that [modern Western] societies began thinking of recycling as something important.
[Krzysztof Kościuczuk, Selma Selman’s Art is Dirt-Cheap but Worth
More Than Gold, Frieze, 28 November 2023. Selma Selman’s Art Is
Dirt-Cheap but Worth More Than Gold | Frieze]
Selma Selman engages in a multifaceted practice that combines activism, feminism, and art. Through her work, Selman confronts and subverts societal power dynamics, particularly addressing themes of discrimination, violence, patriarchy, and sexism experienced within her community and beyond. Her art reflects her firsthand experiences and collective identity as a Romani woman. Selman’s performances are marked by actions, such as dismantling electronic waste with her family in the ongoing project Motherboards, challenging narratives around sustainability and power. She repurposes and transforms objects symbolizing status into statements of resilience and resourcefulness, and hereby explores themes of transformation and value creation, much like a contemporary alchemist.
By deliberately positioning herself as an artist of Romani origin, Selman reshapes narratives of identity and representation, advocating for the empowerment and visibility of oppressed women.
Selman’s artistic practice is marked by a visceral expression of rage, serving as a potent critique of societal injustices. Through performances wielding axes and power tools, or charging at mechanical equipment such as Mercedes cars, she confronts and challenges prevailing narratives of discrimination and oppression. Her confrontational approach reflects a deep-seated urgency to reverse power dynamics and dismantle systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities.
Selman is also the founder of the organization ”Get The Heck To School” which aims to empower Roma girls all around the world who faced ostracization from society and poverty. Recent solo exhibitions include Röda Sten Konsthall, Göteborg, 2024; Her(0), Gropius Bau 2023, Berlin; Don’t Look Into My Eyes, Kasseler Kunstverein Museum Fridericianum, Kassel 2021; Selma Selman, National Gallery Sarajevo 2021; Superposition, KUK Gallery Cologne; I Will Buy My Freedom When, Traveling exhibition to Budapest, Trieste and Syracuse 2021.
More info > www.selmanselma.com
