Dennis Hollingsworth

Javier's Report From Istanbul

Javier Tapia (I've blogged about my visit with him in Copenhagen here in 2010) has a residency and a show in Istanbul this spring, here is a short description:

The project Solid Liquids aims to generate a social sculpture in the center of Istanbul, mixing elements of the local life, an artist work and institutional structures.

The initial part of this project is based on research, using the time of an artist residency in the hosting town, in this case, Istanbul. This investigation navigated through the history of Istanbul and it's memory, the use of public space, commercial and cultural. Such work provided a collection of documents and objects from local libraries, book shops, antique stores, the center of research

SALT, interviews and field trips, all together, with photo documentation, provided the ground for the final outlook of the installation and its features. A sculptural platform made to be used and shared by all who wants to join.

Today, he sent me another email in the wake of the recent mass protests in Istanbul's historic Taksim Square. Here is his report:

Istanbul, Wednesday June 5th, 2013.
I arrived to Istanbul in early April of 2013. I came to Turkey to work on a residency with SALT and the Danish Arts Council. The purpose of my trip, besides doing the usual duties of an art residency, was focused on developing a project called Solid Liquids; A social sculpture, in the center of the city, dealing with issues of history, memory, high and low culture, macro and micro politics and architecture.

As time passed by, my involvement with the local history and Istanbul's inhabitants became closer and closer, however, always from the foreigner perspective. My friend, and this time around assistant as well, Can Subiler, has introduced me to big part of what Istanbul was and is today. Taking me inside his circle of friends and showing me some aspects of the city I would never be close if it wasn't for them.

When the time to open my show came around, last week, I could feel and see how the little environmental movement, near the Gezi Park, next to Taksim square, in the center of the city, was growing.
The original movement was focused on getting signatures from the people visiting Taksim, in order to make a petition to be hand to the mayor of Istanbul to save Gezi Park of being destroyed for the construction of a proyected shopping mall. The movement and the demonstrations were pacific, however, last week the police moved in, as it has been communicated in the international press, using incredible amounts of tear gas in order to chase away the demonstrators. The battle started.

The different factors influencing the recent fights point out to one thing; the common discomfort, from diverse number of factions of Turkish society, towards the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The fight for a small park is symbolic. Now the fight is all over Turkey. The people is disappointed about how the Prime Minister is ruling the country, promoting divisions and making laws and rules that seems to undermine the spirit of what identify Turkey. Obviously; this is an historical familiar scenario of power.

In early April, my impressions of the Turkish society were mixed, since once I came out of the role of a tourist, taking pictures and eating good food, I could see that the dialogue between people was friendly, however distant. Students and professionals went on their own business, as well as everybody else, filling their roles, without integrating themselves in "the others" activities. My impression of their social development status was even more confirmed while I was doing my research, talking to Turkish old and young, walking on their streets, looking how they reacted to each other. Somehow not a negative view, nevertheless a distant one.

Friday 31st of May was the day the fight started.

If the Prime Minister Tayyip would have heard or create an atmosphere of dialogue, nothing of the reported violence would had happen. Nevertheless, he still wants to continue with the projects, as a symbol of his arrogance in power. His attitude has provoked that people that once were indifferent to each other has come together to demonstrate. The fact that the police attacked a peace demonstration, lead by an environmental group, has generated a sense of urgency that putted aside all the things that were pulling people apart before.

As Can, my friend told me, "I did not think this could be possible, I feel I want to cry out of emotion"... I have seen young and old, simple workers and professionals, famous and anonymous, hippies and punks, religious and secular, homosexuals and heterosexuals, football fans and academics, all come together, with such a big overall support that this movement cannot longer be ignored. They have fought for freedom of speech, for the right to be united against a government that wants to impose rules that aimíng divisions, focusing in economical gain and power.

That Friday 31st of May, gas literally came in to my apartment, I could not longer be there and wait for everything to calm down. I took up on myself to register as much as I can, with photos and videos, listening to people and joining them in their demonstrations, to communicate to everybody I can what I am experiencing.

Demonstrators are unarmed, and if anybody comes close to the conflicted areas, everybody is welcomed. People have clean the mess and garbage after the fights, they have organized themselves, collectively (and I mean thousands of people) to share food and water and anything needed to keep their stand. The demonstrators have not used guns or bombs, and even between them there is a spirit of collaboration and understanding of why is the fight up. In the night, as how it has been, when the police moves in, they defend themselves and the Gezi Park with stones and barricades. The rest of the city supports them, clashing pots and making noise, marking a global state of support. Every day, the last few days, when people see others marching towards Taksim, in every neighborhood, they received a warm ovation. Everybody is helping each other. Storekeepers, hotels, and even some policemen, have turned to give support.

It's beautiful to see people joining together in this fight. In the world we live today what is happening in Istanbul and in other cities of Turkey is not a fight for a small park. The fight is also an inspirational example of bravery and selflessness. The legacy of these days, and the people joining the demonstrations is of courage in the face of despair, conviction in the time of indifference and persistence in the face of overwhelming adversity. We all owe to them our gratitude.