Media Award for Standing Man / Duran Adam
White shirt, gray pants and a backpack at his feet…the ‘Duranadam’ (standing man).
The performance artists Erdem Gündüz will be honored with the german “M100 Media Award”, which is a award for human rights in September 2013 in Potsdam, Germany.
He´ll be rewarded for his peaceful violence-free demonstration of resistance and also for his brave, creative and long-lasting protest in the name of human-rights and freedom of speech.
After the Turkish government had forbidden to protest or demonstrate at all, the performance artist Erdem Gündüz stood in the same place without moving for eight hours on June 17, staring at the flag of modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the Atatürk Culture Center, that should be demolished by the will of the recent prime minister Erdogan.
Gündüz was soon joined by a group of around 300 fellow demonstrators, who all came to stand in silence beside him, staring in the same direction. Police intervened against the protestors around 2 a.m. Ten people, who “insisted on standing” were taken into custody by the police and around 100 policemen were charged to wait right where he stood.
In memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the Bosphorus Brigde Istanbul on 10th November at 9:05 am
The similarity to the minute of silence for Atatürk is hard to ignore. In memory of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, every year on 10th November at 9.05 o’clock life in Turkey stands still for one minute. With similar peaceful tranquility the ‘Duranadam’ was standing on the Taksim square last night from 6 p.m. until early in the morning. Many joined him to publicly remain silent about their displeasure with the Turkish government. Despite the absolute stillness of the protesters, there were again several arrests. However, people remain steadfast. They continue to be silent on the Taksim Square and hold their peace for democracy in the country. Protesting in silence seems to be a new phnomenon. And now, it takes on even international dimensions.
Capuling – Standing Man, June 18 at Taksim Istanbul
However, the protest was continued with other supporters on June 18 during the day. People across the country were quick to pick up the new protest, and hundreds of photos showing people standing still have been shared so far.
June 18 at 10 p.m. (Republic of Turkey-time) facebook-users are calling for a worldwide 5-minute stillstand in support of the people of Turkey. It remains to be seen whether so much immobility ever arrives at the government’s doors.
The Standing Man is a new form of capuling invented by the artist Erdem Gündüz on June 17th after prohibition of protests in Turkey… learn more about the Turkish Capuling
all photos by capuling photographers