Ali Taptık
Information︎︎︎, Email︎︎︎
Website in construction.
Publications coming soon.
Video and online works will follow.
Website in construction.
Publications coming soon.
Video and online works will follow.
Meridians
2011
“Meridians” consists of four images showing censored spreads and details from the black-taped editions of Turkish translation of Henry Miller’s novel “Tropic of Capricorn” presented along with the originals the images depict.
Can Yayinevi, one of the most important literary publishing houses in Turkey, published the translation of “Tropic of Capricorn” first in 1985, when the publication was found sexually explicit, was banned from distribution and its copies were destroyed. The translator and the publishing house were sentenced to pay large amounts as a punishment.
In 1988, 40 publishers from Turkey reprinted “Tropic of Capricorn” without the apparent knowledge of Can Yayinevi and its translator by censoring the offensive content with black tape. They included the court decision of 1985 publication in the introduction of the book, which contained all the censored sentences as a part of expert witness’s statement. This edition was sued for obscenity as well but was cleared during trials as court decisions are in the public domain and can be published freely. The consecutive editions of the book are still presented with black tape and inclusion of the court decision.
This work can be considered an homage to 40 publishers and Can Yayinevi for their poetic resistance in 1988, aiming to remind the importance of collective resistance in a country that is constantly dealing with oppression of free expression.
Can Yayinevi, one of the most important literary publishing houses in Turkey, published the translation of “Tropic of Capricorn” first in 1985, when the publication was found sexually explicit, was banned from distribution and its copies were destroyed. The translator and the publishing house were sentenced to pay large amounts as a punishment.
In 1988, 40 publishers from Turkey reprinted “Tropic of Capricorn” without the apparent knowledge of Can Yayinevi and its translator by censoring the offensive content with black tape. They included the court decision of 1985 publication in the introduction of the book, which contained all the censored sentences as a part of expert witness’s statement. This edition was sued for obscenity as well but was cleared during trials as court decisions are in the public domain and can be published freely. The consecutive editions of the book are still presented with black tape and inclusion of the court decision.
This work can be considered an homage to 40 publishers and Can Yayinevi for their poetic resistance in 1988, aiming to remind the importance of collective resistance in a country that is constantly dealing with oppression of free expression.
Depression,
Gürtel
und Sehnsucht
2012
Realized during a two month residency at the project space of renowned Krinzinger Gallery, “Depression, Gürtel und Sehnsucht” focuses on subtle appearances of the sex industry and pornography.
First of the triptych depicts storefronts from the red light district of Vienna, Gürtel; a circular road in Vienna which originates from fortification wall built under emperor Leopold I, stretching through couple of districts. Digital removals of text from the images bring forth the forms that veil or signify the nature of these places.
The middle section is a bulk of text, created from the tag cloud of a popular porn-video website; the tags are taken along with the amount of videos every category, creating an alternative image of pornography.
The last part of triptych consists of portraits of escort girls from Vienna, censored with QR Tags that establish links to an online collection of literary and theoretical texts on pornography and addiction, providing a reader, a compendium to the artwork. The list of the texts can be accessed at dgs.alitaptik.com/index2.htm.
First of the triptych depicts storefronts from the red light district of Vienna, Gürtel; a circular road in Vienna which originates from fortification wall built under emperor Leopold I, stretching through couple of districts. Digital removals of text from the images bring forth the forms that veil or signify the nature of these places.
The middle section is a bulk of text, created from the tag cloud of a popular porn-video website; the tags are taken along with the amount of videos every category, creating an alternative image of pornography.
The last part of triptych consists of portraits of escort girls from Vienna, censored with QR Tags that establish links to an online collection of literary and theoretical texts on pornography and addiction, providing a reader, a compendium to the artwork. The list of the texts can be accessed at dgs.alitaptik.com/index2.htm.
Reform–Reset–Revisit
2014
Commissioned by IKSV for
International Exhibition of Architecture 2014
International Exhibition of Architecture 2014
Commissioned for the TR Pavillion at the 14th International Exhibition of Architecture in Venice, Reform–Reset–Revisit (2014) combines structural details, work architecture and urban spaces from the 1850s until today. Taptık’s photographic constellation extends curator Koolhaas’ conception of the modern era (1914-2014) by taking the Declaration of Reform (1839) the first Constitutional Document of the Ottoman Empire.
