(In)visible Battles: The Resonance of Healing

ACUD Berlin

In this performance, Wirya Budaghi combines various elements of nature along with rhythm and movements to convey the emotionality and aesthetics of struggle, confrontation, and healing in exile. The performance is inspired by a poem that Budaghi wrote himself in 2021. The poem reflects on the future of a country where the artist lives in exile, where people are electing a far-right party that threatens democracy, art, and coexistence. Through the performative timeframe and the experience that Wirya Budaghi creates and shares, the audience is given the opportunity to embark on a journey with him, engaging with the vulnerability of the space and the (in)destructible nature of words, text, and body. This journey conveys concern, care, and also compassion within this context. Throughout the performance, Wirya’s brother, Wefa Budaghi, plays the Def, a traditional instrument from Kurdistan. Wefa, who also lives in exile, teaches language and music theory at private schools. This musical accompaniment creates a dynamic atmosphere that supports the exchange of knowledge and the continuation of cultural struggle in exile.