“The Contest of the Fruits,” Slavs and Tatars‘ animated film, referencing Uyghur poetry from the 19th century, offers a satirical take on language, politics, religion, humor, resilience, and resistance. Drawing inspiration from a verse-based poem, the film transforms the traditional verbal dispute format into a dynamic rap battle among various fruits. Nash Tarr, a talented rapper from the Uyghur diaspora, brings the original soundtrack to life with a performance that blends pop, trap, and maqam elements. Polish musician Lubomir Grzelak adds another layer of depth to the music with his skillful mixing.
In “The Contest of the Fruits,” thirteen fruits, ranging from mulberries to pomegranates, engage in a humorous and ironic oratorical joust. Rendered in Arabic calligraphy, the fruits’ individual physiognomy adds a visual dimension to the film, highlighting the richness of Uyghur culture and its syncretic heritage. The film is rich with Uyghur identity, shedding light on the linguistic, ethnic, and ethnographic elements that contribute to its diversity.
Developed during the collective’s residency at The Hurford Center for the Arts and Humanities and The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage in 2021, “The Contest of the Fruits” has garnered attention through exhibitions at prestigious venues such as Basement Roma, Centre Pompidou Metz, and Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery. The video work is currently exhibited at Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler Gallery in Berlin. Accompanying the animated film is an eponymous exhibition featuring some of Slavs and Tatars’ paradigmatic works, including “PrayWay” and “Salamoia (blue).” Through these artworks, the collective continues to explore themes of language, identity, and cultural politics, inviting viewers to contemplate on it. The exhibition will be on view till the 6th of April, 2024.
hmmmm…. and this is all? seems very underwhelming
looks very boring