ARTIST STATEMENT
As a second-generation Iranian immigrant growing up in America, my video work primarily grapples with the notion of cultural identity. I grew up with only a second-hand account of Persian culture, relying on my mother’s account of growing up there. This has made getting in touch with my roots exceedingly difficult, as I am always cast as an outsider looking in. My work is about charting that heritage, from the perspective of growing up in the Western world, and also from the perspective of Iranians, and the disparate place in between.
Through omnifarious media collage pulled from both archival and contemporary media sources, I attempt to distill what of Iranian culture permeates in a world ever expanding with globalism ideals in the internet age. I am interested in exploring feminism, consumerism, and decoding social standards in western culture, and how that juxtaposes with my Persian heritage.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Alexandra Tahereh Kaucher was born in 1989 – daughter of John Kaucher, an ex-pat American painter and Elham Khatibi, an ex-pat Iranian contrarian who met in Paris. She now directs and produces with her partner and collaborator on various short-form pieces, music videos, and art projects under the moniker Hiss. She has directed a dozen short form pieces for BBC storyworks in over various countries in multiple languages in addition to making various short video art pieces. Alexandra made Ad age’s The List Generation Next 2022 and the Commercial Director’s Diversity Program 2022.
Her directorial works have premiered at Cannes AVIFF, Milano Fashion Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Aesthetica, Swedenborg film festival, and The Awareness Festival promoting sustainable and green futures. Her work has been published on Nowness, BOOOOOOOOM, Re/ Make, and Alpine Modern. Alexandra is developing her debut feature, Never Move Backwards, an experimental guerrilla doc following an all female parkour group in Iran. The film will explore themes of rebellion, youth, and counterculture in the face of a conservative regime.
© Alexandra Tahereh Kaucher