Have you ever been to an art exhibition and wondered what
the heck you are doing there?

This is me all the time and it happens even when I like the
artist’s work.

My whole experience dramatically changed when I recently
found myself in an artist support role assisting musician and street artist
Basel Zaraa with his interactive performance piece “ As far as isolation goes”
at Tate Exchange.

Basel describes it as a conversation between a refugee and
the audience.

As a participant you sit on a chair on one side of a wall
with headphones on. You are invited to place your left arm through a hole in
the wall. As you listen to Basel’s voice, the sound of the sea and a song
created by him, he sits on the other side of the wall and draws on the inside
of your arm. At the end you are
handed a piece of chalk to write a comment on the wall if you wish to do so.

The song is inspired by conversations with friends and
colleagues who have recently claimed refuge in the UK. The piece is a
collaboration with live artist Tania El Khoury (whom I have not yet met) and
uses sound, touch and interactivity to bring audience members in contact with
those faced with inhumane detention centres and a mental health context that
disregard their political and emotional contexts.

 “As far as isolation
goes” is very moving, I have not seen one participant untouched. The concept is
very cleverly thought out and it feels to me that it is the touch element that
makes for such a powerful impact.

As I assisted with the artwork I encountered an amazing
amount of humaneness from people, visitors and colleagues alike which felt very
unusual. It made me feel more part of the whole exhibition! I started having
deep and meaningful conversations with people from all over the world. I felt I
contributed, my life mattered, I belonged there. It was exhilarating!

The artists created a strikingly powerful empathetic
experience for the audience.                                   It is not an easy
task to transmit empathy into consciousness. “As far as Isolation goes” is
particularly successful in that respect. Again I believe it is the touch
element that majorly contributed to achieving this.

My favourite part was the fact that the artist was a quiet
unassuming guy. I was moved by his humility. And by his gentleness. It turned
my experience into a pleasurable one. It was an honour to be of service as I
witnessed and became part of what almost felt like a sacred ritual.

Do I think that art can make a difference?  Yes! I do now, after experiencing this
performance piece.

It is more than a piece of art to me it, is also an
inspirational workshop on empathy, humility, perception and on reflection.

“As far as Isolation goes” gives me hope as an artist and as
a human. It is living proof that art can make a difference through creating
awareness.  Empathy and awareness
naturally create ripples which then have the potential to affect change.

People will tell other people. Change starts in our little
communities. We can each have a part in it.

                                                                                          
Chris Harder    https://chris-harder.format.com/