1646 Experimental Art Space | Hague, Netherlands

SAHA supports 1646 Experimental Art Space in Hague, within the scope of Cihad Caner’s exhibition, titled Parroting the Parrot, between 2 May – 13 July 2025.

&nbsp,In&nbsp,Parroting The Parrot&nbsp,Caner follows the story of Cem Sultan, an Ottoman prince exiled in Europe in the late 1400s, accompanied by his parrot.&nbsp,While mainstream narratives generally portray historical figures as true heroes,&nbsp,this project reimagines Cem as an antihero, challenging traditional depictions of history.

In Caner’s new video, the main character becomes Cem’s parrot, who is there to guide and accompany him during the years away from home. In a playful way, the parrot’s perspective shows us how entertainment can help maintain the way history is told.&nbsp,&nbsp,Through its lens, the project delves into storytelling’s complexities and the risks of reinforcing singular perspectives.&nbsp,It also makes us wonder if alternative voices can offer&nbsp,new ways of understanding the past and&nbsp,question the ways in which history is constructed and circulated in our time.

Cihad Caner (İstanbul, 1990) is an artist based in Rotterdam and Brussels. His practice explores the politics of the image through the mediums of video, photography, music, motion-capture, and CGI. Caner’s research-driven practice revolves around (re)presentation, language, marginalisation and alterity. His fictional CGI characters are often multi-lingual protagonists in non-linear, metaphorical narratives that employ humour, absurdity, and poetry to critique the status quo.

About 1646

1646 is an art space&nbsp,in the heart of The Hague.&nbsp,With its experimental, international and free public program,&nbsp,1646 wants to contribute to an increasingly complex society by challenging existing systems and traditional views, to reflect on the questions that live among us all. The exhibition program at 1646 shows innovative artistic practices, inviting&nbsp,local&nbsp,and international artists to make new work.&nbsp,With a focus on&nbsp,solo-projects,&nbsp,1646 offers an in-depth perspective&nbsp,of&nbsp,the artist’s practice&nbsp,via a&nbsp,public&nbsp,program&nbsp,containing&nbsp,a generous overview of exhibitions, artist talks, events,&nbsp,publications, dialogues, podcasts and&nbsp,a&nbsp,residency program.&nbsp,

&nbsp,