03 Nov MARDIN ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

The Artist-in-Residence Program held in Mardin between October 28 and November 3, 2019, was conducted by artist Ali M. Demirel and Burak Topçakıl, Hüma Utku and Balkan Karışman were the participating artists-in-residence. Two Mardin based artists, Ömer Kılıç and Cebrail Özmen also contributed actively to the program.

In the one-week process, communication and collaborations were established with public institutions such as Artuklu Municipality, Mardin Museum and Artuklu University, as well as art initiatives such as Rograf, 13 m², Mardin Biennial and AtölyeFF. AtölyeFF and 13m² opened their spaces for the use of the program. Artist Ali M. Demirel gave a speech on “Cinematic Architecture” at Mardin Artuklu University on the 1^st of November.

During the program, photographs, moving images and sounds were collected from Mardin. Based on those collected images and sounds, a collective work was produced in order represent the effects of the city of Mardin on people. The resulting audio-video performance was presented on the terrace of AtölyeFF on the 3^rd of November to an audience of around 50 people. After the performance, a Q&A session was held where Ali M. Demirel and the participating artists answered the audience’s questions and exchanged their thoughts about the process. Demirel also shared his experience and ideas with university students.