Conceptual Statement:
The installation establishes a new perspective for one of the MENASA region’s identical qualities which is described as its introversion in several aspects and taking it as an attitude rather than charging a positive or negative meaning on it. Introversion is referring to the closed system of the region in terms of philosophical depth,veiling of thoughts, conservatism and all the borders enclosing them. The conceptual framework relies on this boundary conservation and the duality it nourishes with a tribute to its own creative tools and a criticism to its own socio-political relations. Therefore the installation itself reflects a dual meaning standing for both a tribute and a criticism. The introverted panels of installation stand as an envelope, a kind of outer skin which symbolizes the separation between the internal depths of the region’s philosophy from outside. Each couple of panel also symbolizes the inbetweenness, controversy, contradiction, dichotomy with their two wings and angled positions to each other. They have equality and form a balance as well, which results from the similarity of the regional characteristics. The characteristics such as hierarchy of thoughts, domination on territory and conservation of culture are depicted on them referring to the art and architectural patterns and textures of region’s artifacts throughout the history. They will be expressive just as the art works of the region were since ancient times. The panels dissolve into each other like approaching geographies but never close the gap completely, which is critical. There exists a continuous tension. From this respect, it is demonstrated that the interactions between thoughts, flow of diverse opinions and melting of the boundaries into each other are the source of variety and richness which shows itself in the center. In other words, the power of the region increases only with this mix and mosaic with a common language of its own dynamics. The minds in the region blow up in the skin of the envelope and when detached, they participate in the flow to bridge between geographies/ diversities. The ties are stilling against the breaking off. All the system is closed to outside and the nexus for the audience is basically from the intersection points of the panel acting like an oculus to inside, a 3 dimensional hole for the observer. It frames the experience for the standing observer. He/she is on the edge of the system which is enclosed and keeps all the show inside. This is also a reference from the region’s architectural characteristic which takes place in form of enclosed courtyards which distinguish between public and private and stands unreachable until you are inside. The weathering steel textures will attribute to the resistance of all these commonalities to change of time. Therefore the installation demonstrates itself as a multi-layered space form which the conceptual framework of “envelope” takes place as a linkage by de-materializing the interaction of thoughts, variety of philosophies and the depth they have. The installation is there to tell the story of the geography with its inherent codes of philosophical and socio-cultural structure to evoke the observer’s attention. The materials are Cor-ten Steel and Steel Wire.
