An art performance, titled ‘Wall of Berlin’, by theater artist and director Shayan Afkari will go on stage from May 9 at Tehran’s Mehrab Hall.
The project is inspired from the well-known music album ‘The Wall’ by the English rock band Pink Floyd, Honaronline quoted Afkari as saying.
The motions and acts are designed based on the inspirations drawn from the album lyrics, said Afkari. “The album comprises 26 sound tracks, but we used only 12 of the more popular ones that focused on concepts such as humanity, freedom and peace.”
The Wall is a rock opera that explores abandonment and isolation, symbolized by a metaphorical wall.
The songs create an approximate storyline of events in the life of the protagonist, Pink, a character based on real persons whose fathers were killed during the Second World War. Pink is oppressed by his overprotective mother, and tormented at school by tyrannical, abusive teachers.
All those traumas become metaphorical ‘bricks in the wall’. The protagonist eventually becomes a rock star, his relationships marred by infidelity, drug use, and outbursts of violence. As his marriage crumbles, he finishes building his wall, completing his isolation from human contact.
“We visualized every track as distinct episodes, and presented the story through motions,” Afkari said, adding that the project is replete with video clips, “that make the work closer to video performance art.”
He said several of his art students collaborated on the project during a 3-month period of rehearsal.
The performance will run through June 2 at the hall located at the junction of Imam Khomeini St. and Vali-e Asr St., Enqelab Ave.
