Autumn 2024 – Literature, Culture and Art Program

LITERATURE

• Latife Tekin, Sevgili Arsız Ölüm
  • Georges Perec, Life: A User’s Manual
  • Susanna Tamaro, Follow Your Heart
  • Robert Musil, A Man Without Qualities

Reading Corner: A Journey of Emotion and Thought

Latife Tekin, Sevgili Arsız Ölüm

Latife Tekin’s work deeply reflects Turkey’s rural life and the changing social structure due to modernisation. With its simple language and vivid descriptions of nature, it introduces the reader to the cultural richness of the Turkish people. The book prompts you to reconsider the value of survival and love.

Georges Perec, Life: A User’s Manual

Perec’s extraordinary observational skills and attention to detail will make you feel as if you are wandering through a labyrinth in this book. Recognised as a masterpiece dedicated to the art of puzzles, the novel focuses on the ordinary details of daily life and demonstrates how deep and rich it can actually be. In this novel, which Perec wrote over a decade, he presents the complex lives of the occupants of an apartment as a detailed microcosm. It’s an innovative novel that can be read in any order, with new aspects to discover each time.

Susanna Tamaro, Follow Your Heart

Tamaro’s book evokes a deep emotional resonance. The story of a character embarking on inner exploration reminds us of the necessity to listen to one’s heart and inner voice. Celebrated as the most successful Italian novel after Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose”, Follow Your Heart includes an intimate self-examination presented through letters that were never sent.

Robert Musil, A Man Without Qualities

In this book, we encounter an intellectual journey, by deeply exploring the concept of “stupidity,” and showcasing the complexity of human nature. Musil questions what stupidity is and who can truly be considered foolish, traversing through the intricate labyrinths of art, literature, and critical thought, and investigates how the notion of stupidity has evolved over time.

Happy reading…

CONCERTS

• Enjoy a delightful evening at Jazzy Sundaze with renowned jazz artists and special tasting and cocktail workshops led by top chefs, featuring delicious meals, on October 20th at Swissotel The Bosphorus Chalet Garden!
• Experience the unique voices of Anoushiravan Rohani and Homayoun Shajarian as they meld timeless Iranian melodies with the lively rhythms of Western music on November 9th at Ülker Sports Arena.
• The legendary rock band Jethro Tull, known for their progressive rock, folk rock, and hard rock styles, will be performing at the Volkswagen Arena on November 23rd!
• Don’t miss the first Istanbul concert of the British extreme metal band Anaal Nathrakh, set for November 26th at IF Beşiktaş!

MUSIC DISCOVERY

• Ezgi Arıkan, Kördüğüm
  • Glass Animals, Wonderful Nothing
  • Zedd & Muse, 1685
  • Andrea Bocelli & Karol G, Vivo por Ella

THEATRE

• The play Prenses Hamlet, which centers around the deep depression faced by Hamlet’s mother after marrying Claudius, her brother-in-law, just two months after the death of the King of Denmark, will be showcased on October 7th, 10th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, 29th, 31st and November 1st at Bakırköy Aydem Sahne, and on October 11th and 12th at Mecidiyeköy Özel Tiyatrolar Derneği Sahnesi!

• Dünyada Tek Başına tells the story of a Sultan’s journey by horse and boat, exploring themes like fear, love, kindness, evil, and virtue through the relationships. It will take place on October 16th at Zorlu PSM!

• The play Aşk Biter Mi? presents the real love stories and emotions of important literary figures such as Attila İlhan, Orhan Veli, and Cemal Süreya, along with Didem Madak and Maria Misakyan. It will be performed on October 19th at the Atatürk Cultural Center!

• In İçerde, we will watch the performance of a character who identifies with a book he found in prison. This play will be staged on October 4th, 7th, 10th, 18th, 19th, 20th and November 1st at Aydem Sahne Bakırköy, and on October 13th, 15th, 17th, 25th, and 28th at Mecidiyeköy Özel Tiyatrolar Derneği Sahnesi!

• Ophelia Complex is a reimagined version of Shakespeare’s classic Hamlet, where the narrative is fragmented to create a new dramaturgy focusing on the characters Ophelia and Hamlet. It will be performed on October 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th at Ara Sahne, Beyoğlu!

• Takımyıldızları, penned by Nick Payne, tells the parallel universe stories of a relationship between two people who meet at a party. It will be presented on October 6th at Dasdas Sahne, and on October 18th and 25th at Minoa Pera!

• Çingeneler Zamanı Ederlezi Müzikali, adapted from Emir Kusturica’s acclaimed film Time of the Gypsies, will be staged by Kumbara Görsel Sanatlar Tiyatrosu on November 11th at Trump Sahne.

• The new play Ölüyor Mu Ne?, written and directed by Şahika Tekand for her studio players, explores themes such as power, marriage, and justice through irony, contemplating Zeus’s mortality and its implications for Olympus. It will be performed on November 17 th at Alan Kadıköy!

• The play Ahududu (Arsenic and Old Lace), previously known as a film for being interpreted by some of the world’s biggest stars and featuring Cary Grant, will star Suna Keskin and Melek Baykal. The play will be held on October 3rd and November 18th at Kadıköy Eğitim Sahnesi, October 6th and November 17th at Trump Sahne, October 10th at AKM Tiyatro Salonu, and October 22nd at Ankara MEB Şura Salonu!

• Güne Bakan Cam Kırıkları tells the story of two lonely individuals who unexpectedly meet in a park, intertwining the past and present, lies and truths, laughter and tears, transforming into an unforgettable narrative for the audience. The play will be staged on October 16th and November 21st at Fişekhane İkinci Sahne, and on November 27th at Antalya Türkan Şoray Cultural Center!

EXHIBITION

• The 19th edition of Contemporary Istanbul will take place at Tersane Istanbul from October 23rd to 27th!

• Chiharu Shiota’s exhibition titled Dünyalar Arasında, opened by the invitation of Istanbul Modern, focuses on the artist’s feelings of being “in between” in the context of the 100th anniversary of Japan-Turkey diplomatic relations. The exhibition, which can be visited until April 20th, 2025, creates an observation space that blends Istanbul’s cosmopolitan identity with the artist’s migration story, offering viewers a universal perspective.

• The exhibition Hesaplar ve Tesadüfler, curated by pioneers of algorithmic art Vera Molnár, Dóra Maurer, and Gizella Rákóczy, brings together works from the Hungarian National Bank Collection. This exhibition investigates Molnár’s impact on computer art and how Maurer and Rákóczy expand the boundaries of abstraction by integrating algorithms and mathematics. It is open for visitation at Pera Museum until January 26th.

• Since the 1990s, Doug Aitken has challenged the boundaries of art with his exhibition İçimdeki Şehir, which explores the effects of hyperconnectivity and contradictions on individual isolation. This monographic exhibition, curated by Jérôme Sans, will be on display at Borusan Contemporary until August 2025, showcasing Aitken’s works from 2007 to 2024, providing an extraordinary perspective on modern life.

• The exhibition Ebedi Prelüt features works by artists from the Borusan Contemporary Art Collection, including Françoise Morellet, Ayşe Erkmen, Rick Silva, Jerry Zeniuk, Axel Hütte, and Merve Şendil. It examines the cycles that shape human existence from the perspective of contemporary artists. Open until August 2025, the exhibition addresses the theme of cyclicality as a common motif across different cultures, while the term “prelude” refers to recurring forms of existence, raising awareness of individuals’ daily lives.

CINEMA CORNER

Upcoming Releases

• Joker: Folie à Deux features Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the Joker in a film that offers deep character analysis and impressive visual aesthetics. Enriched by Lady Gaga’s performances and music, the film presents a psychological depth as director Todd Phillips skillfully navigates dark themes, taking the audience on an emotional journey. The film will be released in October!

• Directed by John Crowley and scripted by Nick Payne, We Live in Time is a romantic comedy-drama film starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, set to hit theaters in October!

FİLM EKİMİ

This year, the 23rd Film Ekimi, organized by IKSV, will take place in Istanbul from October 4th to 13th at Atlas 1948, Cinema City’s, Cemal Reşit Rey, Kadıköy Cinema, and Sinematek / Cinema House.

Here are some film recommendations from Film Ekimi:

• Grand Tour offers a unique critique of imperialism, modernity, and mobility, intertwining historical events with modern elements while bending space and time. The film is the sixth feature of Portuguese director Miguel Gomes, who won the Best Director Award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and is Portugal’s Oscar nominee.

• Directed by Christophe Honoré, Marcello Mio explores the complexities of identity, familial legacy, and living in the shadow of an icon. It is a distinctive faux-comedy documentary that premiered at Cannes, featuring real actors portraying themselves and participating in Film Ekimi.

• The award-winning film The Brutalist, which received the 2024 Venice Silver Lion for Best Director, FIPRESCI, and UNIMED Cultural Diversity awards, brings an innovative perspective to cinema, described by critics as a “monumental symphony of the concept of migration.”

• When the Light Breaks, the latest film by Icelandic director Rúnar Rúnarsson, was presented as the opening film of the “Un Certain Regard” section at the Cannes Film Festival. Set against the magnificent landscapes of Iceland, it follows a young individual’s emotional journey and is inspired by Rúnarsson’s own life—an essential watch during Film Ekimi.

• Hard Truths made its world premiere in September at Toronto, revealing director Mike Leigh’s exploration of modern family dynamics struggling with challenges and searching for human connection. This film is a hard-hitting, touching yet heartfelt drama, definitely a must-see during Film Ekimi!

Small Screen, Big Emotions: New Movie/Series Discoveries

• The Good Mothers is a gripping British-Italian crime drama mini-series, based on a true story that follows three courageous women from the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta mafia and their fight to dismantle the criminal empire alongside a female prosecutor.

• Mank, featuring Gary Oldman’s impressive performance, delves into the writing process of “Citizen Kane.” It unveils 1930s Hollywood and the era’s social dynamics. Directed by David Fincher, the film captures the spirit of the time through its monochrome aesthetics, with Oldman successfully portraying the alcoholic social critic Herman J. Mankiewicz, questioning the relationship between art and power, offering profound and thought-provoking themes that viewers shouldn’t miss.

• Un Homme Qui Dort (The Man Who Sleeps), originally a novel by Georges Perec published in 1967 and adapted into a film by Jean-Daniel Pollet in 1974, exemplifies Perec’s experimental and avant-garde writing style. The film reflects Perec’s detailed writing style and uncertainties through visual storytelling, presenting an impactful cinematic experience that leads the audience to introspective inquiries with its experimentalism and existential themes.

• Another adaptation, The Lost Daughter, marks Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut and presents a profound examination of motherhood, self-identity, and societal expectations. Based on Elena Ferrante’s 2006 novel La Figlia Oscura, the film—featuring Olivia Colman’s outstanding performance and Gyllenhaal’s masterful editing—offers both a thought-provoking and emotional experience for viewers.

PODCAST

Ne Okuyorsun Bu Aralar?: This podcast features enjoyable conversations about books with a different guest in each episode. Its main theme revolves around the works the guests are currently reading. It’s a perfect choice for those curious about what their favorite authors are reading, those looking to discover new books, and anyone who enjoys listening to discussions about literature.

1 Kitap 1 Film 1 Şey: Hosted by Eylül Görmüş and Tuğçe Arslan, this podcast engages in innovative conversations around various concepts while exploring their reflections in literature and cinema. Additionally, it discusses current cultural events such as film festivals and literary awards. This is a highly enjoyable podcast and anyone who’s looking for an inspiring listening experience should follow!

Prepared by: Nazperi YILMAZ