The Project Begins

During my time here I have always had it in the back of my mind that I would make a visual project before I leave. I have not had any particular idea how this project would manifest, all I seemed to know is that I love the landscape and I hoped that somehow the shapes, forms and materials around me would be incorporated into my work. I consciously chose not to push this process, but just to take in the experience of being here and see what happens.

Doing what comes natural- making figures

So, without any specific idea in mind, I just did what I do naturally, which is make figures.  During the beginning of my stay I went to the town of Avanos, which is famous for its pottery and clay, and bought 30 kilos of their red clay. I made a few figures and then they started to multiply.

Growing family

Now growing in size

It's very relaxing for me to make these figures- sort of like knitting. In the process, I become very calm, quiet and focused, so I just kept going.  I did not plan how the figures would look or made a conscious decision for them to all be the same. At different points, I thought of changing the position, but then I felt more comfortable staying with the same position.  The only thing that changed were the positions of the hands.  After I starting making these I saw the Whirling Dervishes perform and I was influenced by their hand and arm movements.

A new family

More recently I started sewing these figures out of a fabric that I bought at the outdoor market in Urgup.  I purposefully didn’t bring any materials with me because I wanted to use what I could find or purchase locally.  I also made a costume for myself out of the same fabric, which I need to do a little more work on.

Yesterday I chose a space for the installation.  It is one of the old abandoned cave houses behind where I am staying.  It's not far away, but it is a bit of a trek to get there- through a narrow passage, over rocks and under very low archways.  All of this of course only adds to the drama.

The space is so strong and beautiful that it is hard to think of working with it, but I will take my figures there tomorrow and see what happens.