Views from “Modernity. Perspectives from France and Turkey” at Istanbul Modern

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Exhibition at the İstanbul Modern, 16.01.-16.05.13

Artist from France and Turkey see the globalized modernity of nowadays as an ambiguity of technological progress and humanitarias regression. The gain of mobility and access for the individual is shadowed by the tranformation of the world to a system ruled by commerce consuming natural ressources and ethical values.

Kitsch creates cosyness in the industrialized world and triggers a whole industry of electronic affection items like cosmic cats and Skylines build of shiny fassaded Fridges.

HaleTenger from InEnArt on Vimeo.

Artist Hale Tenger’s work “Strange Fruit” is one of the most impressive works. The entrance of the exhibition room is shielded by tons of Feathers formed to a thick curtain in white (outside) and black (inside). A globe being turned upside dowm is the center of the installation. The music in the background creates an “alien sound” in the opinion of a kid I listened to at the opening. In fact it is a reverse version of the song “Strange Fruit”, the hynm of the anti-racism movement in America, . The world’s been turned around, men is flying in the universe, but its nature is as cruel and basic as it has always been.

Nevin Aladag: Citylanguage II from InEnArt on Vimeo.

Nevin Aladağ’s Videoinstallation “Citylanguages II”, filmed here in the environment of the opening, is a playful ironic commentary on the ambiguity of mobility. The world as a reflection in a moving mirror reminds the ancient metaphor of Platon’s “The Allegory of the Cave” transferred to our globalized reality.