Brooklyn-based Iranian duo Icy & Sot just opened their first solo exhibition at Danysz Gallery in Paris. Fences Faces presents a body of work the two brothers have focused on for the past four years, further detaching themselves from stencils. With the new pieces, the Iranian brothers move on to experimenting with new materials such as wire mesh and cut out steel tools, which help them sharpen and strengthen their political and social messages.

I sat down with them during the installation and, as usual, they were finishing each other’s sentences in perfect communion, bringing to light the depth of their knowledge, understanding, and love for the subject of their work and each other. It was Brexit day. A new border around the UK had just been created. The timing was perfect. AruallaN

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AruallaN: What is the exhibition about?
Icy&Sot: We are showing the works we have been doing for the past four years. There are photographs of the installations we have done, the works on fences, shovel pieces, new paintings made with a cut-out steel tool we made. It is the first time we are showing the whole body of work since we started to experiment and change the direction of our art. It is very different from what we used to show in galleries before, but the intent is the same: we address questions regarding immigration, borders, refugees, capitalism, social issues, a reflection on this fast lane life we are living.

We want to show how much we have evolved in our journey. We have been lucky to get such good support. It is always hard to change to a new thing, and this pushes us. We are excited to continue to explore different mediums. A lot of people see the connection with the work we were doing with the stencils. Although we are now using different materials and objects, if you look at it, it still comes from our background, we use cut-outs. We also realized that we could do so much more, that it was sometimes more impactful to use actual objects that people can see and feel. If you are looking at a fence, it resonates. Physical contact with the object makes it more real than making a painting with the same idea.

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Today is the day of Brexit, a new border has appeared around Great Britain. What do you think of it?
It is just sad. Somebody’s decisions are going to affect so many people’s life.

It is not one person, it is the People who chose that. Isn’t that democracy?
The problem is that it comes also from propaganda, people get brainwashed and think this is the solution.

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As former asylum seekers who fled from Iran to the US, your history conveys hope for people who want to flee from their country. I feel it is reflected in your work: you tackle deep and harsh subjects while keeping the doors opened, as in the installation you created for the Crystalship last year which is pictured in the show. You also use wire mesh which allows the viewer to see the other side through it.
We love using fences. It is something that divides people, like borders or camps. People are on one side, they can see through it, they can see the other side, yet they are not able to get out of it. Also, being on one side of it is a hopeful thing, you project your dreams through it. More generally, we want to draw attention to the concept of borders. In this world, there used to be no borders. People divided the land which, in turn, led to nationalism and racism; ownership led to the separation. We are of the lucky ones, we immigrated, we did not spend time in any camp, and we feel sad for people who come from countries at war. They are escaping from war, they are in danger, they have hopes for a better future, they migrate to Europe or other countries and end up in these camps. How can we even begin to imagine what a life-changing journey this is for them? If every country could take an equal amount of refugees, if they shared the burden and treat them as new members of their society, the world would be more at peace.

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Do you have an idea of what will be your new experimentations and next steps?
We never plan anything, but we know we will try to push further what we are doing. This year, we also wish to focus on public art installations. We will be touring in Europe, creating interventions, experimenting with new materials, going to festivals such as Nuart Aberdeen in April, we will be in Italy in June, and in Switzerland in July. We will go to Georgia too. And after that, we are going to Slab City near San Diego, CA. It is a city in the desert where there are no rules. We have an idea that would be so good there, in the desert. It is a personal project. Sometimes you have an idea, and you cannot wait for an opportunity to show up, you just need to go for it and do it.

Photo credit by Aruallan and Icy & Sot