SCHIRN NEWSROOM: Selma Selman

SELMA SELMAN

JUNE 20 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

Only a few years ago, she boldly and confidently entered into the spotlight of the international art world, describing herself as “the most dangerous woman in the world.” Together with her family, Selma Selman (b. 1991) disassembles former status symbols like Mercedes-Benz cars in front of an audience, in order to acquire the few precious metals that are still usable. The spoken performances by this artist with a Roma background are usually loud, for she gives expression to anger and her urge to reverse power relationships. Selman’s art describes impressively, and through a variety of media, experiences of discrimination, violence, sexism, and patriarchy.

Selma Selman. Flowers of Life, exhibition view, © Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt 2024, Photo: Norbert Miguletz

THE SCHIRN PRESENTS TWO NEW WORKS BY THE ARTIST SELMA SELMAN IN A MAJOR SOLO EXHIBITION

In a variety of media, Selman’s art explores experiences of discrimination, violence, sexism, and patriarchy in a striking way. Her multilayered work comprises performances, sculptures, paintings on car parts and scrap metal, drawings, and video. At the Schirn, the artist presents prints, small sculptural works made from precious metals, and two performances that pick up on central themes of her oeuvre, as well as two newly created works. The installation "Flowers of Life" (2024), made from multipronged grabs, gestures to her family’s livelihood, which involves collecting and reselling scrap metal. The film "Crossing the Blue Bridge" (2024) is based on her mother’s memories of experiences in her hometown of Bihać during the Bosnian War (1992–95). Selman takes these family experiences as a point of departure to situate herself as a feminist and activist artist who now campaigns internationally for her community.

CURATORS

Matthias Ulrich, Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt

Press Texts

Press information of the exhibition "Selma Selman: Flowers of Life“

19.06.2024 | The Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt is dedicating a major solo exhibition to the artist from June 20 to September 15, presenting two newly created works.

Add to downloads

Show PDF

Texts of the exhibition "Selma Selman: Flowers of Life“

19.06.2024 | Here you can read the texts of the exhibition "Selma Selman: Flowers of Life“.

Add to downloads

Show PDF

Press Images

The press images that have been made available in the SCHIRN’s newsroom may be used at no charge exclusively by the media (print, online, television, radio) for current coverage on the respective exhibition/project according to Section 50 of the German Copyright Act. They may not be used for any other purpose without the express permission of the respective copyright holder. When using the press images, the accompanying proof of copyright must be observed and likewise cited unchanged in direct relationship with the respective image. The press images may not be cropped or changed. If reproduced on the internet the images must be imbedded and not downloadable with a maximal resolution of 72 dpi and a maximal size of 20 x 20 cm.