Realty ( Emlak ) • 2018 • by Mediha Didem Türemen

Duration - 3’29’’ | Language - English | Country - Turkey | Year - 2018
Inspired from the photography work «Venice» by Mediha Didem Türemen from the exhibition «Myths»

"Realty" is a video work, newly created by Mediha Didem Türemen. Her photography work titled "Venice" which was part of "Myths" photography project; inspired her to come up with a moving work. Mediha Didem Türemen does experiments on connection Myths with a fiction script, gives a role to her photography work Venice and let it act in a surreal plan; by using her experiences on film.
 
"Myths" photography project was developed during her thesis studies on Swedish director Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal. The project is a reflection of the The Seventh Seal's spirit and the aspects it is questioning, describing the experiences and the fears of today’s people with materials of different ages in The Seventh Seal. Bergman points out the age old common fears by using different time periods ( * ) . She also refers to the strange reality in science fiction films and has a similar fear like Bergman's concern.
 
When she took as starting point of Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal which challenged both believers and unbelievers for nearly half a century; Mediha Didem Türemen turned her eyes to sky and its mythical reality, with the hints of Bergman's apocalyptic fears.
 
The Seventh Seal opens and closes with the passage from The Bible (Rev 8:1) . It takes audience into Bergman's existential theme characterized by reflection upon faith, doubt, and unbelief. While observing Bergman's path, Mediha Didem Türemen came across with the passage Matthew 6:10 at The Bible telling "come and set up your kingdom" which connects the universe she wants to formulate at "Realty".

Through her photography work titled "Venice", she takes another look at tomorrow's reality extends to the future of humankind; Realty ironically offers some idealized escape routes with introduction of peace, luxury, comfort, silence. An allegory focusing the result of destroying fertile lands, construction passion, destroying nature and the universe mercilessly. Realty presents new ways to establish an imaginary kingdom; and it is marketing a hope as if only can be lived outside of the world.
 
Allowing a translated undefined sound to guide for choosing best point for viewing the world, with a lack of hope and confidence about the future; Mediha Didem Türemen tries to suggest an exit plan, a last shining chance as an untraditional solution. Monologue appears with an unmanned situation by the sound of "Google translate" and acts as a representative of a real estate agent.
 
This situation invites to a boundless land to experience with an unknown authority offer, an immoral deception that uses greedy humankind's ego weakness by using the presentation of setting up a kingdom dream. Realty is a delineation of reality with an unknown sound inviting for being witness of the Infinite at nonguaranteed bizarre residences.
 
While adopting a metaphoric approach to trending caprices in Realty; the artist invites viewers to explore notions of belonging, disregarded traditions, neighbourliness, nomadism, non-face to face communication, asociality at undesirable or frightening distopic spaces; with a fear underneath.

( * ) "Myths" is dedicated to him with a note: “Homage to Ingmar Bergman” and accepted as part of the «Bergman100» events - Ingmar Bergman Foundation's 100th birthday celebrations of the director that continues throughout 2018 in different countries. The project is utilizing cinematography, photography to convey the legends experienced by people who witness surreal moments due to changing climate conditions and unpredictable natural phenomena. The exhibition was also a parallel event of Istanbul International Film Festival.

Created by Mediha Didem Türemen