The Future of Ecology
The Future of Ecology
With: Nigol Bezjian, Kevser Güler, Deniz Üster and Müge Yılmaz
Opening: 23 March 17.00 – 21.00
Exhibition: 23 March – 21 April 2018
Open: Thu – Fri – Sat 14.00 – 18.00, Veemkade 574 Amsterdam
The Future of Ecology, the fourth exhibition of Corridor’s year programme Teotwawki, is dedicated to Earth’s seemingly unique, protective atmosphere. The subject of our atmosphere, and the related global climate change and current epoch of the Anthropocene, has permeated into the major discourse and research of the arts and sciences. Many artists and activists dedicate their main focus on the current state of our environment, nature and its materials. The process of this exhibition therefore focuses on the mental impacts of uncertainty and unpredictability of nature on the collective human consciousness.
As “Water” is life and “Life” is a being, when one cannot find water, a person is unable to declare “Me”. In Me, Water, Life (2017) Nigol Bezjian takes the viewer on a journey into the world of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Their dire situation dealing with lack of water in their everyday lives. Their solutions to the problems of hygiene, sewerage, agriculture in settlements composed of incomplete structures unfit for human use.
Nigol Bezjian is a director and writer born in Aleppo. He studied cinema at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and UCLA, USA. Nowadays, he lives and works in Lebanon. He is known for Chickpeas (1992), The Same Gate (2014), and Thank You Ladies and Gentlemen (2014). His new experimental feature documentary “Broken Dinners, Postponed Kisses” (2018) is near completion. He is co-winner of the 2015 Venice Biennale Golden Lion award for Best National Participation.
Kevser Güler makes a text contribution to The Future of Ecology. Kevser Güler is a curator and researcher based in Istanbul. Recent projects she has been involved in include Colony, 2nd Contemporary Art Exhibition of Kaos GL Association, Istanbul (2017); Ways Out from the World, Cappadox, Nevşehir (2017); Let us Cultivate Our Garden, Cappadox, Nevşehir, (2016); Living/Matter: In and Through, Proto5533, Istanbul (2016); and Cappadocia Struck, Cappadox, Nevşehir (2015). Kevser was a member of the Istanbul Biennial team between 2007-2014, and has been working for Arter Museum Project since 2014.
Deniz Üster is taking part in The Future of Ecology with her work Beyond is Before (2013). This work gives insight into a “future” history of a nomad, at a time when water and petrol no longer exist. Inside the sacred interior of a pylon, the nomad discovers a part-tree / part-chest that is capable of regressing objects placed within it back to their raw material, reversing the manufacturing process right back to the objects’ original elementary parts.
Deniz Üster lives and works in Glasgow, Scotland. Üster is an interdisciplinary artist, whose social practice is rooted in anthropological and ethnographic research interwoven with science-fiction. Her shows include The Polity of Φ (solo with Alberta Whittle), Intermedia Gallery, CCA, Glasgow (2016); We Can’t Be There. Emergency Provisions for (Un)Anticipated Futures, a film screening and panel discussion, ICA, London (2015); and Bulusma-Reunion, Sabanci Museum, Istanbul (2015).
Müge Yılmaz takes part in the exhibition with “Minders”, a new series of sculptures. Her work focuses on the marks that humanity leaves upon the ecosystem and geology on a global scale. She approaches the transition from the Holocene to the Anthropocene, from biotopia to technotopia from the domain of human emotion. In her work, she searches for “trigger points” – in the shape of visual manifestations – that evoke subconscious reactions, reflexes, and instincts.
Born in Istanbul, based in Amsterdam, she was a resident at the Rijksakademie. Her works and performances have recently been shown at the 11th Shanghai Biennale, S.M.A.K Gent, M HKA Antwerp, KIT – Kunst im Tunnel Düsseldorf, in Museum Het Valkhof, and Performatik17 in Brussels.
Teotwawki: [ti.ɑt.wɑk.i] is an acronym for “The End of the World as We Know It”. It stands for the potential of a new and unexpected occurrence where daily life might suddenly be upended. Civilisation, urban life, spoken and unspoken rules of society may change and people may need to develop new skills in order to survive. Let us think about predictions, forecasts and prophecies on various themes in the future. We will use the Teotwawki as a tool to dive into the intentions, hopes, expectations and plans of each individual and community.
Corridor Project Space is an independent and interdisciplinary contemporary art initiative in Amsterdam with indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces. They believe in the importance of experimental art practices that focuses on the creation of new content that is off the grid from the institutional and commercial circles. Corridor Project Space is run by Suzan Kalle & Suat Öğüt.
On 21 April there will be a public dinner: Artist Recipes. Favourite dishes of partecipant artists will be served starting from 7PM at Corridor Project Space. Müge will give an informal talk on her work. RSVP to info@corridorprojectspace.
Kevser Güler, Deniz Üster and Müge Yılmaz are kindly supported for this exhibition by SAHA Association and Fonds Kwadraat supports Müge Yılmaz’s new work.
This year Corridor Project Space is supported by Het Mondriaan Fonds, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsdeel Oost.