Resume

EDUCATION

2023-
Doctorate Researcher at the PhD Program in Arts and Design : Bauhaus University Weimar, Faculty of Arts and Design

2019-2022
M. Sc. in European Urban Studies : Bauhaus University Weimar, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, IFEU

2011-2016
B. Sc. in Architecture : Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture

HONORS AND AWARDS 2018-

2024    Heinrich Boell Foundation Doctorate Research Scholarship

2023    Mahsul Exhibition: CultureCIVIC Art Production Grants Program by EU Cooperation in Turkey

2023    Mahsul Initiative: Sustainability Fund for art initiatives, SAHA [Supporting Contemporary Art from Turkey]

2023   Seeds Awards to artists and cultural practitioners, Prince Claus Fund, Netherlands

2023   Bridge Scholarship for a Doctorate Start, Bauhaus University of Weimar

2023    Mahsul: BAYETAV Culture and Art Support Program, İzmir, Turkey

2022    TAKLAK : Sustainibility Fund for independent publication projects, SAHA [Supporting Contemporary Art from Turkey]

2022    Mahsul: CultureCIVIC Grassroots Grants (Yerel Projeler Hibe Programı [European Union funded project] 

2021    Emerging Architects Selection & Exhibition (GEMSS) : selected for 2021 fellowship, in Turkey

2021    Hajde! : Women’s Promotion Fund, Bauhaus University of Weimar

2020    Bir Yerin İzinde Pek Çok Yer : Sustainibility Fund, SAHA [Supporting Contemporary Art from Turkey]

2019     Full Scholarship for Master Education : The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

2019    The Garden of (not) Forgetting : Documentary Film Production Fund, Ministry of Culture Turkey 

2018    The Garden of (not) Forgetting : SALT Research Fund 2018, given by SALT Research and Programs

RESEARCH & CURATORIAL PRACTICES

2023-present    Weaving Reeds Between Two Rivers
Doctorate Research at Bauhaus University of Weimar, Arts and Design phD Program:

Focuses on indigenous knowledge of nomadic pastoralists, known as Yörüks, and the water bodies of Çukurova . Through practice based approaches it aims to reveal their ecological constellations.

2022-present    Mahsul Initiative
Initiative, field research and gathering program:
Mahsul [Yield] focuses on the environmental, cultural and social yields of rural modernisation in Çukurova, Turkey. The project explores various connotations of yields through archival and field research. It maps the associations between industrial agricultural practices, colonial aspirations and modernisation ideals on the Eastern Mediterranean coasts of Anatolia.


2021-present    Taklak

Independent artistic research and publication project:
Questioning belonging and its connection to the nation, the collective desires of land through testimonies and memories of different generations, with the company of the flowers, the seeds and the roots of a plant called “TAKLAK”

2021-2022    Narrating the Discordant: Exhibitions on the Modernist Architecture in Turkey

MSc. Thesis at IFEU Bauhaus University of Weimar:
The research focuses on the role of narratives and exhibition practices in urban heritage conflicts. It analyzes the position and influence of architectural research and exhibition practices on modernist architecture in Turkey. Supervisors: Jun. Prof. Dr. Daniela Zupan (IFEU, Bauhaus Uni. Weimar), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yıldız Salman (ITU, Docomomo Turkey)

2020-2021    Making Heritage of Urban Movements, Case Study: Tempelhofer Feld

Guided Research Project (IFEU), guest researcher at Leibniz Institute of Regional Geography, Leipzig:
The research focuses on how the memory of urban movements can be narrated by the different actors involved in an urban conflict.Concucted at Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (IfL Leipzig) as part of European Urban Studies M.Sc. Program.

2017-2019    The Garden of (not) Forgetting

Artistic research and exhibition, co-curator with Eda Aslan:
Initially focused on documenting neglected modernist urban spaces, particularly the Alfred Heilbronn Botanical Garden, The Garden of (not) Forgetting Project evolved over time into an archival and artistic research practice, exploring themes such as botanical practice, multispecies memory, and exile.

2017-2019    Memory of a Place, Topography of a Destruction 

Research project, researcher with Eda Aslan:
This research focuses on the decision to transfer the Alfred Heilbronn Botanical Garden property to the Presidency of Religious Affairs from Istanbul University in 2017. It examines the  political, ecologic and acultural dimensions of the decision with archival findings and interviews.

EXHIBITIONS

2022-23    The Garden of (not) Forgetting Jewish Museum of Franconia in Fürth

solo project exhibition [July 2022 - Feb 2023]  co-curator and artist w/Eda Aslan

2021    Nevşünema, Saint Joseph: Beats of a Fabulous Machine, Saint Joseph Natural Museum

w/Eda Aslan Curator: Aslı Seven

2021    Hajde!, 11m3 ProjectRaum Weimar [July 2021]

w/ Arnisa Halili

2021    The Garden of (not) Forgetting, DEPO Istanbul

solo project exhibition [April 2021 - June 2021]  w/Eda Aslan

2020    Whispers, Seeds and Traces, Futureless Memory Exhibition, Kunsthaus Hamburg

w/Eda Aslan group exhibition [Sept 2020 - Jan 2021] Curator: Katja Schroeder  Exhibition concept: Dilek Winchester

2017-18    Solidarity Architecture, as part of Plankton Project team

Exhibition at the Chambers of Architects of various cities: İstanbul, İzmir, Diyarbakır, Adana, Antep, Mersin

2016    Makara Moda Street Furniture, Red Bull Art Around Kadıköy

as part of Plankton Project team

EMPLOYMENTS

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

2021-22   Hiwi - Research Assistant: Insititute for European Urbanism and Bauhaus Research School, Bauhaus Uni. Weimar administration, organization and developing scientific communication for BRS and Dr. Elodie Vittu, manager of IFEU and coordinator of EUS M.Sc.

2017-18  Architect and project coordinator: KHORA Studio, Aslıhan Demirtaş : SALT Beyoğlu Winter Garden and Guest Artist Officesarchitectural research, interior garden design, interior design

2017-18  Graphic Designer: NOW HAPPENS digital communication and event agency visual communication design & project management for various brands and organizations performing in public spaces

2017    Jun. architect and project coordinator : SANAL Architecture Research and City Design: SALT Galata Reading Room,architectural research, interior design, furniture design

2017    Project coordinator : SANAL Architecture Research and City Design : Imaginable Guidelines Istanbul, publication, card game  

2016    Intern architect : SANAL Architecture Research and City Design : Bomontiada Courtyard urban design and development

2015-17    Co-founder and designer : Plankton Project

Involved projects: Durak Ovacık bus station, Izgara Beyköy street furniture, Açık Şantiye Beyköy collective live space, Omurga Artuklu exhibition structure, Makara Moda street furniture, Baraka Yedikule urban gardening, Gölge Seferihisar street furniture

2015    Intern Architect : Pattu Architecture and Design : Young Architecture Project 2015 Public Space Intervention and exhibition organised by MoMA, MoMA PS1, and Istanbul Modern Museum

ARTISTIC AND CURATORIAL

2013-2017    Artist assistant : Practice of architect, researcher and artist : Ali Taptık

Selected works: Cevher: Public Excellency, Imagining the Future of Public Library, 2nd Istanbul Design Biennale, Places of Memory: Turkish Pavillion, Venice Biennial for Architecture, Venice, 2014, Nothing Suprising, 2015, Book

2014    Research and exhibition assistant : Summer Homes Claming the Coast, SALT Research and Exhibitions the research and exhibition are initiated and curated by Meriç Öner

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY

2020    Co-director and producer : The Garden of (not) Forgetting, documentary film w/ Eda Aslan

2019    Production designer : Belonging, a feature film, directed by Burak Çevik. Premiered in Berlinale 2019, Forum

2018    Co-art director :  The Pillar of Salt, a feature film, production design by Billur Turan, directed by Burak Çevik. Premiered in Berlinale 2018, Forum

PUBLICATIONS

2021    Bir Yerin İzinde Pek Çok Yer (Many Places in the Search of a Place)
printed book, Manifold, 2021, Istanbul, ISBN 978-605-81555-2-7 w/ Eda Aslan
in collaboration with Manifold and with support of SAHA

2020    Bir Yerin İzinde Pek Çok Yer (Many Places in the Search of a Place)
monthly article series, Manifold, an online cultural criticism journal.  w/ Eda Aslan

2018    Alfred Heilbronn Botanical Garden: Understanding the Current Situation with the Layers of History, Two articles published in Arkitera Architecture Magazine

2018    Imaginable Guidelines Istanbul contribution in content and organization as an employee of SANALarc, “a card game to discover how cities are design” Building Information Center (YEM), 2018, Istanbul, ISBN 9786058119116

2017    Plankton Project in “Solidarity Architecture” : contrubition in exhibition book with Plankton Project team, Chamber of Architects of Turkey, 2017, İstanbul, ISBN 978-605-01098-2-5

EVENTS

Talks, Lectures and Presentations:

07.2022    Chromatic Wednesdays at Apartment Project Berlin, The Matter of Memory, on Belonging (2019) with film’s director Burak Çevik

04.2022    Literature and Art in the Era of Antropocene, MSGSU Women Studying Centre, The Garden of (not) Forgetting: Thinking of a garden as a shelter and archive moderated by Merve Şen, with Eda Aslan

04.2022    GEMSS Panel Series: Architecture as a Research Field, The Garden of (not) Forgetting moderated by Pelin Derviş, with Eda Aslan, Yelta Köm and Bihter Almaç

12.2021    Balıkesir University Architecture Faculty - Mimarlığa Merhaba, “An Alternative Interpretation of Architecture Practice” with the invitation of Binat İletişim & Danışmanlık

07.2021   Request and Response: conviviality and reflexiveness conversation series organized by the Swedish Arts Grants Committee IASPS “The Garden of (Not) Forgetting” with Eda Aslan

04.2021   Depo Istanbul : The Garden of (Not) Forgetting Exhibition, “The Memory of Place and the Topography of Destruction” Lecture performance with Eda Aslan

04.2021   Guided Research Project Colloquium, Institute for European Urbanism at Bauhaus University of Weimar, Making Heritage of Urban Movements: Tempelhofer Feld Public Struggle

02.2021   Internal Colloquium Series at Leipniz Institute for Regional Geography, Leipzig
Making Heritage of Urban Movements: Tempelhofer Feld Public Struggle

11.2020   Kunsthaus Hamburg : Futureless Memory Exhibition, “The Memory of Place and the Topography of Destruction” with Eda Aslan

05.2019   SALT Beyoğlu Winter Garden Program, “Escaping from the city, sheltering int the garden” with Eda Aslan, Erdal Üzen

03.2019   Mekan ve İnsan, Medyascope, “Imaginable Guidelines Istanbul: Kenti Oyunla Çözmek” with Semra Horuz for representing ŞANAL Architecture Research adn City Design Studio

12.2018   SALT Research Funds Project Presentations, “The Garden of (Not) Forgetting, The Memory of Place and the Topography of Destruction” with Eda Aslan

2018    International Unconference: Urban Struggles in the Mediterranean City at National Technical University of Athens. The Right to the City and Common Space : “Solidarity Architecture; Plankton Project” as part of Plankton Project

2017    Non Governmental Organizations Sessions : “Plankton Project”, as part of “Are We Human?” event series during the 3rd Istanbul Design Biennale as part of Plankton Project

Workshops:

2019    Imaginable Guideline İstanbul design workshop with students, Balıkesir University instructor in collaboration with SANAL Arc, Alexis Şanal and Binat İletişim ve Danışmanlık

2019    Imaginable Guideline İstanbul design workshop with NGO’s and students, Columbia University’s StudioX İstanbul, instructor in collaboration with SANAL Arc, Alexis Şanal

2018    Paper Wall design research workshop at Design Week İzmir, instructor with Cansu Pelin İşbilen, Ayçıl Yılmaz

2017    Shadow in the Village design and construction workshop at Design Village İzmir, instructor as part of Plankton Project team

2016    Assembled Space design research workshop at Mardin Artuklu University, instructor as part of Plankton Project team

2016    The Garbage design research workshop at SALT Research and Programs, instructor as part of Plankton Project team

Organized Public Programs:

Der Garten Des (nicht) Vergessens Exhibition Public Programs

10.2022    Jewish Life in Turkey during IIWW, Roundtable discussion with the contribution of Author Dr. Corry Guttstadt, Author Dr. İzzet Bahar and Nora Şeni, Jewish Museum of Franconia, Fürth, Germany [Forthcoming]

09.2022    “Heimatlos”, Eren Önsöz film screening and talk with the contributors of the documentary: Engin Bagda, Kurt Heilbronn and Susanna Schwarz, Jewish Museum of Franconia, Fürth, Germany [Forthcoming]

12.2022    “Growing up as‘Second Generation’”, Talk by K. Heilbronn and D. Eisenstein, Jewish Museum of Franconia, Fürth, Germany [Forthcoming]

01.2023    “Exil am Bosphorus”, Meryln Solakhan film screening, Jewish Museum of Franconia, Fürth, Germany [Forthcoming]

The Garden of (not) Forgetting Exhibition Public Programs

06.2021    “Of carrier bags, gardens and boxes” Exhibition talk with Aslıhan Demirtaş on The Garden of (not) Forgetting, DEPO Istanbul

05.2021   “On Journey” Exhibition talk with Kurt Heilbronn on The Garden of (not) Forgetting, DEPO Istanbul

SKILLS

Software Competent in using various design and archiving tools in long term projects and learning new softwares.

Professonal knowledge Adobe Suite (especially Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Premier Pro), Rhinoceros 3D Modelling, Sketchup 3D Modelling, Microsoft Office and Autocad.

Basic knowledge GIS Mapping, Grasshopher, Archicad.

Research Competent in academic and field-based research through various qualitative and quantitative methods. Experienced in working with archival documents, handwritten manuscripts; conducting interview, narrative analysis, survey.   

Communication Competent in working in multicultural teams wint interdisciplinary focuses, working with university students and NGOs, and communication with people from different backgrounds in office or on site.

Language Turkish (native) / English (fluent) / German (intermediate)

Organization Competent in coordination and management in long term design and research projects. Experienced in design and construction oriented workshops, participatory events, exhibition production, installation production, interior design, stage design and film production.

Administration Competent in organization and planning. Experienced in working in office and in the academic field, using Bauhaus University Module and Bison platforms and BBB online teaching tools.