Interview: 3Package Deal artist Fariborz Karimi

As part of the 3Package Deal, Stichting NDSM-werf, Over Het IJ and Das Theatre formed the Urban Realm coalition. This coalition supports recently graduated Das Theater artists within the context of NDSM's Urban Realm. This edition, 3Package Deal artist is freelance performance maker, writer, and performer Fariborz Karimi.

Can you introduce yourself first and tell us about your artistic practice in general?

My name is Fariborz Karimi. I am a theater maker and completed my master's degree at DAS Theatre in Amsterdam (AHK) in 2023, before that, I lived in Tehran, Iran, where I obtained my bachelor's degree in theater direction and acting (2012). My practice revolves around the concepts of cooperation with friends, intimacy, and self-censorship. I'm investigating how friendships and self-censorship are intertwined with the systems of the environments in which we live. In addition, I'm researching how different realities can be linked together or how they overlap around these concepts. In my latest work, this led to a form of remote collaboration.

You graduated with a play at DAS that the audience can see at Fringe in September. Can you briefly introduce this piece?

The piece that I developed during my master's degree at DAS Theatre is called “Oh, Wild Gazelle, Where Are You?”. It is a collective dream that offers friendship and closeness, even when, as collaborators and friends, we are physically far apart. The piece was created in collaboration with a choreographer in Iran, who performs and leads the piece remotely and live. Together as a group of creators, we investigate how censorship evolves in different contexts and how it affects us as artists. This piece was first presented at the Cement Festival in Den Bosch in March 2024 and we will present it again at the Fringe Festival in Amsterdam in September. ‍

Would you like to say something about the role of public space in your practice?

My research into self-censorship and friendship delves deeper into questions about solidarity within certain groups, communal thinking, collective creation, survival and protection, cultural norms, internalized censorship and its influence on identity in our public space. ‍

What does it mean for you to work and live in the Netherlands now?

Living and working in a country with a significant gap between my home country's cultural and political landscapes is certainly challenging. Navigating the privileges of the European context and finding ways to de-exoticize my work can also be difficult. However, as an artist, I am inspired by these challenges and find it interesting to explore how they influence my practice and creative process. ‍

What new project are you currently working on (at Productiehuis TR in Rotterdam in the autumn) as part of the 3Package Deal?

“Whispered Dreams” is the new project I'm developing in 2024-2025, which is also part of my 3Package Deal journey. It continues my exploration of friendship and self-censorship, delving deeper into how friendship can play a political role, even in these dark times. Collaboration is at the heart of this work, where all employees are my friends. The co-writer and performer collaborates remotely from Tehran. This remote connection, together with the audience's participation through text and dreams, forms the basis of the set-up. I am developing this work through various residencies such as BUDA (Kortrijk), Hellerau (Dresden), Productiehuis Theater Rotterdam and wpZimmer (Antwerp). ‍

We'd like to invite readers to see your piece at Fringe in September. Can you share the details of where and when with us?

“Oh, Wild Gazelle, Where Are You?” will be presented on September 12, 13, 14 and 15 as part of the Fringe Festival Amsterdam. The location is LikeMinds in Amsterdam North and tickets are available via the Fringe Festival website. https://amsterdamfringefestival.nl/oh-wild-gazelle-where-are-you/

About the 3Package Deal
Mediation for living and working spaces and an individual development budget (€25,000) for talents, and guidance from an interesting and useful network - that's the 3Package Deal. This successful program by the AFK (Amsterdam Fund for the Arts) and Bureau Broedplaatsen of the Municipality of Amsterdam in collaboration with 45 renowned Amsterdam organizations, which open their network, knowledge and locations to them, is now considered a best practice in the field of talent development. ‍