Cauchemar/Qoshmaq was born out of the meeting between these two artists and their collaboration with a collective of artists and researchers in the humanities. Since 2021, they have been working with the Uyghur Institute of Europe on artistic productions and performances that portray the psychological reality experienced by members of the Uyghur diaspora in France and Europe.

During their residency, poet and video artist Merdan Eheteli wrote original poetic texts, while experimental and electronic musician Erpan Hesher composed the original music for the performance. This first phase of the work was enriched by contributions from LuXi, a graphic novel and comic book artist, two dancer-choreographers, Armande Sanseverino and Gael Germain, and Marine Mazel, a psychoanalyst specializing in the Uyghur issue and trauma related to geopolitical issues.

Their joint work, combining multiple artistic mediums and research in the humanities, has highlighted the psychological violence suffered by members of the Uyghur diaspora, indirect victims of genocide through the forced separation of families and transnational repression, which ultimately makes it impossible to obtain news of their relatives interned in camps, as well as constant and real threats on European soil through a system of transnational repression.

Convinced that art can make the intimate experiences of members of their community visible and intelligible, Merdan Ehet'éli and Erpan Hesher wish to contribute creatively to denouncing the violations of the rights of the Uyghur diaspora. The theme chosen by the two separated brothers, inspired by folklore and fairy tales, will tell a universal story of families separated by systemic state violence.

Read excerpts from the residency report written by the two artists below.

"We were warmly welcomed by Elise (Elise Crespel, production administrator at Les Dominicains de Haute-Alsace), who greeted us kindly and showed us to our accommodation. From the moment we arrived, we were enchanted by the atmosphere of the residence (...).

The surroundings were breathtaking. From my window, I had an unobstructed view of the mountain that I would later name ‘Misty Mountain’, a sight that added to the charm of our stay. (...)

That day, Elise showed us around the monastery. We were completely fascinated by the architecture and style of the place. We walked around in awe, admiring every detail with wonder. It was exactly the inspiring setting we had dreamed of for our residence. (...)

The working environment was exceptional, fully equipped with everything we needed, from sound to lighting. We took full advantage of all the resources available for our creative process. (...)

The next day, we met almost all of the staff, who were incredibly warm and welcoming. Their kindness made us feel even more at home. As the days went by, we saw how professional and dedicated they were to their work. (...)

The technicians were exceptional, always available and ready to help us with anything we needed. The site manager was also very attentive, showing us the important areas and ensuring smooth communication. The cleaning lady was particularly kind, which added to the warmth of the environment. (...)"