
<h2>Sougwen Chung is the one who can imagine without borders. Her reference point is drawing. “It’s a ritual for me. A line is a contour of a lived experience, human figures and the organic, and when you can evolve the nature of that line, you can change your nature. Like a kind of meditative awakening, reliant on the extent of your own imagination.” This is the definition of her process. She has designed and constructed custom robots programmed with neural networks trained on her drawings gestures and biometrics. The artist and (re)searcher rejects understanding technology as a tool, but she embodies the idea of constructing robotic collaborators. The idea is challenging the technologies exploring the way in which ‘human artist’ and ‘machine artist’ can collaborate to create something extraordinary.</h2>



<p><strong>How did you get into art?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>My introduction to art and technology was through music and computers, in particular violin and the early internet. The expressive abstract form of sound and instrumentation through being a classically trained musician, the generative beauty of music theory, and the structure of code and screen-based work made a lot of sense to my brain. In the sense that, they all felt interrelated and correlating.</p>



<p>In this way my sciences and art interests have always been entangled. My mother was a programmer and my father an opera singer, so I grew up with computers and music and felt a natural affinity towards both. I’ve always felt an affinity with the duality of these pedagogies and ways of thinking, to consider the hybridity of these practices in collaboration.</p>



<p>The moment when I felt they could work together was the first time I drew with my first robot,&nbsp; D.O.U.G._1.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p class="font-snell has-medium-font-size">&#8220;At the moment, there is an urgency to hope, a revolutionary&nbsp; energy to it. I think hope in times past has been associated with feeling, but the times we live in are reframing hope as radical action.<em>&#8220;</em></p>
<cite>&#8211; Sougwen Chung</cite></blockquote>



<p><strong>How do you define your aesthetic?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>I don’t! At least, I try to approach aesthetics instinctively, not try to think too much about consistency, which can become a bit limiting. There’s something rare about being able to take your own time, find your own resonances, quirks, and curiosities, and then savouring, expressing, and celebrating them. Definitions are meant to be challenged, anyhow!</p>



<p><strong>Which practices lead you to this work? How important is it to be interdisciplinary today?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>Drawing, for me, as an artist and researcher, is how this all began. It’s a ritual for me. A line is a contour of a lived experience, human figures and the organic, and when you can evolve the nature of that line, you can change your nature. Like a kind of meditative awakening, reliant on the extent of your own imagination.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I’m very interested in creating and extending these lines, and meaning of making metaphors, into our processes for art-making by using technology in new ways – whether it be virtual reality, robotics or AI. I believe we can anthropomorphize our relationship with machines, particularly with robotics.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I think by broadening our conversation on how we interact with the tools of today, technology and new applications, we can start to reveal new worlds of potentiality. And by doing this with an ethic of endorsing more caring, communicative, and attentive systems we can create new collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches for ourselves and our interactions with other pedagogies, forms of thinking, and even non-human others.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p class="font-snell has-medium-font-size">&#8220;I try to approach aesthetics instinctively, not try to think too much about consistency, which can become a bit limiting.<em>&#8220;</em></p>
<cite>&#8211; Sougwen Chung</cite></blockquote>



<p><strong>How did you start incorporating AI tools into your artistic practice?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>I really got to explore the collaboration of art with machines as a fellow for MIT’s Media Lab, discussing the hybridities of artistic mediums with technological systems. As an artist-in-residence with Nokia Bell Labs, I got to evolve the thematics of human-robotic collaboration, speculating on how the role of connected machines are expanding in scale and scope through advances in artificial intelligence and the proliferation of mechanical agencies. These speculations continue to drive my curiosity about collaborating with machines and further developing my practice alongside the expanding field of technological complexities.<br></p>



<p>I work with neural networks, computer vision, biosensors, and AR/VR to create relational robotics and technologies. You can think of them as co-creative systems interacting with my body, movements, and biology.</p>



<p>I like challenging the idea of the technologies I work with as being simply tools and prefer instead to nuance those in thinking of them as collaborations. This is how, over time, the expression of this research has produced a cacophony of artefacts like painting, sculpture, performances, installations and simulations.</p>



<p><strong>Your practice involves performance, installation, and drawings, as well as developing pioneering technologies in robotics. What is the interaction between art and technology from your point of view?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>I think often of this quote by writer Edouard Glissant, “Science transforms its languages; poetry invents its tongues. For neither is it a question of exploring, but one, rather, of going toward a totality that is unrealizable, without being required to say where they will come together-nor even that they have any need to do so.”</p>



<p>Not only can artists create new forms of knowledge by engaging deeply with the technologies that shape our world, more importantly technological development must be informed by socio-historical perspectives imbued in art practice.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Tell us about the importance of “freedom of self-expression” and the sense of it in your works.</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>There is a simple provocation championed by the Gutai collective – a post-war art movement from Japan that sticks in my mind. In a series of installations and radical performances, it asked participants to “Please Draw Freely”.&nbsp; I’ve often thought that drawing isn’t the form, it’s the way of seeing the form. And by drawing freely, one can enact a vital ritual that is an ongoing act of freedom.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>What inspires you the most?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>I find a blank canvas inspiring – it’s a space of possibility.</p>



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<p><strong>Do you have a milestone in your life where you really felt you are an artist?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>Over the years I have been really inspired by the vast international network of artists and scientists I’ve been able to collaborate with, and whom I frequently speak with on scientific topics, creativity, or literature.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I think being in the company of those you idolise and can prophesize with, in a way, confirms I’m along the trajectory I need to be whether that’s as an artist, researcher or a yet to be defined label.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Now that we’re doing a lot of performances internationally, I’ve established my studio Scilicet in London and we’re building out various new collaborations. It’s an exciting time which sets course toward a larger milestone of creating more companion networks for the research and breadth of collaboration to continue.</p>



<p><strong>What topics do you like to focus on right now?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>Lately, I’ve been interested in exploring meditation and time through biofeedback systems, regenerative and symbiotic ecologies that emerge from technological stewardship as a way to engage with this idea of the earth as itself an organism, a process of growth, rupture and flow.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p class="font-snell has-medium-font-size">&#8220;I like challenging the idea of the technologies I work with as being simply tools, and prefer instead to nuance those in thinking of them as collaborations. This is how, over time, the expression of this research has produced a cacophony of artefacts like painting, sculpture, performances, installations and simulations.<em>&#8220;</em></p>
<cite>&#8211; Sougwen Chung</cite></blockquote>



<p><strong>What is next for you? Do you have a big dream?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>We’ve been invited to <a href="https://tokyo.mutek.org/en/about/mission">MUTEK.JP</a> in Tokyo this year, where we will be presenting the world premiere of Flora Rearing Agricultural Network or F.R.A.N for short.</p>



<p>F.R.A.N. explores plant and machine co-naturality and biomimetic robotics, and was seeded during isolation. It’s been in development for the last few years and we’re excited to give it liveness since iterations of the film and installation have been presented at Pearl Art Museum Shanghai, SØRLANDETS Kunstmuseet Kristiansand, Honor Fraser Gallery Los Angeles, and Vancouver Art Gallery.</p>



<p>At the moment I’m building my studio Scilicet, and we’re working with a growing team of exciting collaborators on a number of projects. My first art publication is also coming out in a few months from now, a project developed in close collaboration with Montréal-based publisher Anteism Books.</p>



<p>A big dream? It’s honestly been a dream so far to explore these processes and provocations through practice. A dream would be a a continued intertwining of art and life – a collective space in which research and art practice, technological development and philosophical inquiry can coexist alongside inventions of new ritual and commitment to care. That’s the big dream right now.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>What does hope mean to you?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sougwen Chung: </strong>This is a beautiful question. At the moment, there is an urgency to hope, a revolutionary&nbsp; energy to it. I think hope in times past has been associated with feeling, but the times we live in are reframing hope as radical action. &nbsp;</p>


A Space of Possibility

Goodness is a Social Construct


<h2>Animegvrl is a digital makeup artist who has established herself between the virtual and real world. By using augmented reality to create makeup looks, she is redefining the boundaries of beauty perception while expressing herself. Now, Animegvrl is inviting you to her digital world.</h2>



<p><strong>Who is your beauty icon?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Animegvrl: </strong>To be honest I don’t think I have one. I do get inspiration from people close to me, films, objects, music, or very obscure things that surround me but I personally don’t have one specific person that I look up to. I think it’s really good to step back sometimes and create without the influence of the outside world so you get a better sense of who you are as an artist and therefore shaping your own identity.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>How did you get into makeup?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Animegvrl: </strong>I’m a fine arts graduate. I studied subjects like traditional painting, sculpting, 3d modelling, installations and performance art etc. But the truth is, during my time in art school I slowly transitioned most of my projects towards make-up.&nbsp;After that I pursued the craft full time, attending make-up schools in London, Barcelona and Paris. I also worked as a freelance make-up artist for a long time, but I always felt like I was missing something. That’s when I came up with Animegvrl. I loved having a space where I had the freedom to create whatever I wanted to.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>How do you think digital makeup can be utilized in the beauty industry?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Animegvrl: </strong>I think there’s no limit really. From using products that exist in the real world but enhancing them or changing the point of view with digital touches, to creating filters that allows you to try on new releases&#8230; I would personally love to see digital make-up creations walking on a runway done through projections on the face. Maybe even printing digital make-up as a sheet that then you could apply easily to your own face&#8230; I believe digital makeup has the potential to revolutionize the beauty and fashion industry. It could make it easier for beauty brands to showcase their products while reducing waste and making the whole experience way more sustainable while leaving behind all the physical restrictions that come with traditional make-up application. </p>



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<p><strong>What does your beauty routine look like?<br>Animegvrl: </strong>I do look very different in real life compared to what you see on my profile. Most times I actually&nbsp;have eyebrows on and I shave them only for shootings or interviews.&nbsp;My beauty routine is very simple. I do pay a lot of attention to skincare and prepping the base before applying any product. I don’t use foundation only a the smallest amount of colour correcting concealers where needed. Lots of blush. Really, lots. Then eyebrows and lashes, dark red lipstick and I’m good to go.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>How do you think digital makeup challenges today’s beauty standards?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Animegvrl: </strong>Digital make-up has the potential to challenge today&#8217;s beauty ideals in so many different ways.<br>It could make makeup products and techniques more accessible to a wider range of people regardless their location or ability level. It encourages creativity and self expression by allowing us to experiment with different looks that would be basically impossible to recreate in real life. Also, it could make the industry more inclusive by featuring a wider range of skin tones, facial features and body types, challenging narrow beauty standards and promoting a healthier representation of beauty. Lastly, I believe it could help us to remove physical barriers to traditional make-up application, like age, physical abilities or cultural taboos, allowing more people to experiment and have fun with it.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>What is one thing you wish people knew about your work?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Animegvrl: </strong>That there’s always more to it than what it seems. I always create guided by my emotions so I am very attached to every piece I make. I love mixing mediums like traditional make-up techniques with new technologies because it gives me the freedom of expressing whatever is going through my mind at that specific moment in time. There’s always so much work involved for only one look and I feel like people misunderstand where I’m coming from most of the times. I am never guided just by aesthetics but a feeling or a statement I want to make instead.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>How long does one digital makeup take? What does your process look like?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Animegvrl: </strong>It depends on how intricate the design is. Usually I work with the same image as a base for at least a couple of looks. Then I design the digital make-up look on top of the image. Sometimes I use softwares such as Procreate and I paint directly on the skin as if I was doing it in real life. Some other times I use Blender or Cinema4D to create 3D objects modelled to match my face features that then I apply to the image in post. It could take one day, one week or one month. I am never fully satisfied with my pieces so I can work on them forever and I always feel like they’re unfinished.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Where do you find inspiration?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Animegvrl: </strong>I find inspiration everywhere. From films, music, video-games, to more specific stuff like insects and microorganisms, textures, fluids, sounds, the human body&#8230; Also many other artists inspire my work, like classic painters, performance or contemporary artists, tattoo artists and so on. People close to me have a huge impact on my work and perception of reality as well. I like to take pictures of everything that calls my attention. Even if it is the most random thing, I always come back to it and sometimes those arbitrary moments are the best source of inspiration. </p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p class="font-snell has-medium-font-size">&#8221; I believe digital makeup has the potential to revolutionize the beauty and fashion industry. It could make it easier for beauty brands to showcase their products while reducing waste and making the whole experience way more sustainable while leaving behind all the physical restrictions that come with traditional make-up application.<em>&#8220;</em></p>
<cite>&#8211; Animegvrl</cite></blockquote>



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<p><strong>How does anime fit in your makeup world?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Animegvrl: </strong>Both anime and manga have played such an important role in my life when it comes to defining who I am as an individual. I have been reading manga and watching anime since I was very little and I always used it as a way of escaping from reality.<br>Most of my work now is inspired by anime, not just aesthetically but also psychologically I find myself finding references and concepts that I subconsciously take from all the fantasy / sci-fi universes I absorbed during the years.&nbsp;If you pay attention to my creations, you can find some obvious references of anime such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Parasyte, Berserk, Steins, Gate, Akira, Death Note and many more&#8230;&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Your proudest achievement?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Animegvrl: </strong>Being aware that my art resonates with the world around me. Knowing that so many great artists and people I had admired for so long have an opinion about my work. Even getting criticised is an accomplishment for me. I guess making an impact in the beauty industry has been my biggest achievement so far but I am constantly evolving. I have such big expectations for myself.</p>



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Digital Girl in a Physical World: Animegvrl


<h2><strong>The long-lasting court decision between Hermès and digital artist Mason Rothschild concluded in New York, along with the decision, the fashion world&#8217;s perspective on the metaverse is shaping and sharing the clues of its possible fate in the digital world.</strong></h2>



<p>This story, which was the starting point of the success achieved by digital artist Mason Rothschild in the digital world with his NFT named ’Baby Birkin‘, sold for $23,500 in May 2021, pushed the artist to the MetaBirkin project and became the reason for the court that determined what kind of products cannot be marketed as art in the metaverse universe. </p>



<p>In November 2021, fur digital metabirkins, which can be found in any color and pattern, attracted the attention of Hermès and published a text about violation of their trademark rights. Although Rothschild claimed that he saw and interpreted Birkin as a cultural landmark against this text, he could not prevent Hermès from filing a lawsuit against the digital artist. However, according to this recently concluded case, Mason Rothschild&#8217;s MetaBirkin NFTs were found guilty on the grounds that they did not have an artistic interpretation; but, trademark infringement, dilution and cybersquatting.</p>



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<p>With the result of this decision, the discussions about the relationship between digital art and physical fashion hasn&#8217;t rested yet. Like fashion, the metaverse is a platform that comfortably supports how an individual wants to express themselves and offers opportunities. However, the issue of ownership is one of the biggest problems in the virtual universe. As the giant brand Hermès filing a lawsuit against Mason Rothschild, it is revealing a struggle over ownership on the digital platform.</p>



<p>In the physical world, things can easily own as we wear and held by hand, thus, you can prove their belonging to whom; however, in the metaverse, digital clothes are only available in a virtual environment. The issue of how these virtual clothes can be purchased and used; recalling the court of Hermès and Rothschild, it causes a big question mark who will have designer rights in the production of these products. </p>



<p>Here, Hermès claimed an estimated total profit of $231,055.76 from Rothschild with the outcome of the lawsuit so that they could market their products on NFT in the future. Thus, by making the rumors of fashion giants being in this virtual environment certain, it seems that brands should protect their IP addresses effectively in the metaverse space. </p>



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<p>The outcome of the case, of course, ignited the debate; those who remember the Warhol case have told that the judge&#8217;s decision was not based on art history and methodology, and that Hermès continuing this case against an artist could have a negative impact on their own image.</p>



<p>Apparently, this decision coming out on February 8th, is a confirmation of the value of digital goods and NFTs, as well as showing that even digital copies of real-life luxury brands have a meaningful value. While luxury brands continue to maintain their cultural status even in the digital world, the decision also justify the sale of products in the virtual environment at high prices.</p>


Metaverse Reality Check in Fashion


<h2>Meet Volkan Yılmaz, most popularly known as Tanner Leatherstein. His hundreds of thousands of followers brace for impact as he takes a knife to the latest Prada and Bottega Veneta bag, cutting and burning the leather to tell us: is that bag really worth it?</h2>



<p>Starting in the leather business at a young age in his family’s tannery in Turkey, Yilmaz has founded the artisanal leather brand PEGAI and is committed to educating everyone on the science and background behind our favorite leather goods. He is an advocate for minimally treated natural leathers, predicting more and more will turn towards these artisanal products in the coming years.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>What inspired you to start making these videos and showing the ‘behind the scenes’ of the leather process?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Volkan Yılmaz: </strong>I was involved in the leather business since I was a child in our family tannery in Turkey and all my friends who knew my involvement with leather-craft kept asking me: &#8220;Hey&nbsp; I got his wallet/shoe/jacket can you check if it is good/fake or did I pay too much?&#8221;. Hearing the same question hundreds of times made me realize that the general public doesn’t know enough about leather and feel uneasy when shopping for leather goods.</p>



<p>And I confirmed that with my own leather shopping experience in the market where no brand informs you but only tells how great their leather is. And sometimes that is not very true, especially in the luxury level. Thus, I came to this realization that I am in this life to help people understand leather better so they can make better decisions to experience this great resource to its best potential. I started making different videos to convey leather info and tried lots of concepts most of which didn&#8217;t work so well but we recently ran into the &#8220;worth it&#8221; concept that got a good response.</p>



<p><strong>Are there items you have purchased and just couldn’t destroy?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Volkan Yılmaz:</strong> I bought a leather backpack from Johnston and Murphy for $250 and started using it. I saw that product was so well made for that price, I built an emotional connection to it and a respect for the value it represents so I couldn&#8217;t cut it. Still using it. And another purse from Bottega Veneta I bought for my wife and we both loved it so much that now she is not letting me cut it.</p>



<p><strong>What’s some of the science behind the tests you do? Such as acetone or ash test?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Volkan Yılmaz:</strong> The tests I am doing such as acetone and ash test are simple household ways of getting an idea about the finish and the tanning of the leather in front of me. Since acetone is a powerful dissolver, it helps me remove most leather finishes that are PU and acrylic based. Once the finish is removed it helps me assess the quality of base leather underneath the finish and how much of finish was employed in that article. The ash test is a preliminary way of assessing the tanning of the leather as fully vegetable tanned leathers display wood like burning characteristics and leave a charcoal like ash. On the other hand chrome tanned leathers burn quite differently as chrome tanning makes the leather a bit fire resistant so they tend to burn slowly and leave an ash showing green residue which is the color of Chromium(III) sulfate used in the tannery.</p>



<p><strong>What’s been your favorite bag to cut up and dissect?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Volkan Yılmaz:</strong> Tough question; Shinola snap tote was pretty good, I loved the leather choice on an elegant design and nice craftsmanship. Bottega&#8217;s LambSkin Arco Mini was impressive but expensive. Also, Johnston Murphy&#8217;s backpack which I couldn&#8217;t cut was an incredible value for the money &#8211; great bag for such a great price. </p>



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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnZ6WuUB_yS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tanner Leatherstein (@tanner.leatherstein)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
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<p><strong>Can you talk a little bit about your own brand, Pegai? How did it start?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Volkan Yılmaz:</strong> I started PEGAI in 2016 after quitting my super cushy consulting job in Chicago after realizing I am not fit for the corporate world and my hands were missing leather so bad. Up until that point I was a tanner making leather and now I decided to make crafts out of that leather and sell them on Etsy. My specialty of leather knowledge helped me big time and very quickly I got a good response from my customers and it grew to this point.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Now PEGAI is in its new phase of finding its unique niche as a leather crafts brand where artisan leathers meet sophisticated craftsmanship. After about 7 years with PEGAI I realized that small craftsmen like myself love working with minimally finished true artisan leathers that are naturally beautiful but they lack the skills and techniques to achieve sophisticated complex designs. On the other hand large brands have the complex skill yet they don&#8217;t have luxury to use such uniquely beautiful leathers we all enjoy due to the nature of their high volumes and those leathers not being consistently available at those scales so they have to opt for standardizing finishes which takes the soul out of leather and plasticize it.&nbsp;</p>



<p>So, with PEGAI now I have a workshop full of skillful artisans who had experience producing for those large brands and we apply this sophisticated skillset to artisan leathers that I love to curate around the world from specialty tanneries for each article. As a result we offer a blend of both worlds to the leather enthusiast as a rare find in the leather space today and our online business model makes it accessible so more people can experience this unforgettable feel of true artisan leathers.</p>



<p><strong>Looking into 2023, what are some leather trends we should keep an eye out for?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Volkan Yılmaz:</strong> In 2023 and further I see a shift towards more and more natural leather choices in consumers as they come into contact with these minimally finished leathers through passionate artisans and new upcoming brands. With the advances of internet and social media removing the barriers to entry to the leather craft world, tens of thousands of leather workers join the community enriching the way we all experience leather and they all work with these naturally beautiful leathers because, one, it is fun a matter of passion and, two, they can because of their boutique sizes. And as consumers get a taste of this leather kind they have been craving but not able to find in high fashion standardized leather brands, they tend to choose these more and more to satisfy their leather taste. I foresee a shift of market share in leather from large brands to smaller brands in the next couple of decades with this prediction and I believe with the quite unique consciousness of Gen Z that looks for more meaning than fluffy glamour in their choices, this shift will gain speed as they become the dominant decision maker in the economy. </p>


Is That Bag Worth It? Tanner Leatherstein Cuts Up Bags and Tells You Why


<h2>Power, change, and courage. These three words that your body and soul need the most tell the story of a magical transformation where two different souls come together. </h2>



<p>Nike and Kısmet by Milka inspired by fitness and street style, make a permanent mark on your body. This change is focusing again on inspiring, moving, and energetic stories.</p>



<p>Nike&#8217;s inspiring stories and Kismet by Milka&#8217;s vision meet on a mutual path. In this point, the founder and creative director of Kısmet by Milka, Milka Karağaçlı, points out that fitness stands in the center of life, which belongs to an active life. The dynamic spirit of fitness is transformed into Kısmet by Milka&#8217;s modern and remarkable designs with brooches, pins, earrings, and necklaces featuring Nike&#8217;s iconic swoosh logo. For Milka, the main origin of inspiration for her designs is the boundaries that can only be determined by the person and that the collection can completely live in the moment and transform. Like the changing routine of a fitness workout, styling accessories with different styles is celebration of the moment. </p>



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<p>Dedication, victory, enthusiasm, and disappointment are part of sports. In this spot, Nike and Kısmet by Milka are motivated by the sport. The actor Miro Gerede Erkaya, and Ayse Akbulut are the focus of the unisex accessories designed in the light of a project where the social aspect outweighs. </p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="660" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-2-1-1024x660.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54258" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-2-1-1024x660.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-2-1-360x232.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-2-1-680x438.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-2-1-16x10.jpg 16w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-2-1.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Miro wears pants by Les Benjamins, a necklace and bracelet by Kısmet by Milka, a bodysuit by Can Encin, sunglasses by Dolce &amp; Gabbana, shoes and boxer by Nike. </figcaption></figure>
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<p>Life is a transformation by itself. It is a manifestation of a change whose boundaries can only determine by you.</p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="563" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-4-1-1024x563.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54259" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-4-1-1024x563.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-4-1-360x198.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-4-1-680x374.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-4-1-1536x844.jpg 1536w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-4-1-16x9.jpg 16w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Artboard-4-1.jpg 1689w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Miro wears a necklace Kısmet by Milka for Nike, knit sweater by Shopi go, boxer, shorts and shoes by Nike, glasses by Holbrook</figcaption></figure>
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Tone Up" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gBAYhcnyOFs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Performed by </span> Miro Gerede Erkaya</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Creative Direction by</span> Duygu Bengi</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Photography by</span> Zeynep Özkanca</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Filmed by</span> Korcan Söylemez</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Fashion by</span> Burak Sanuk</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Head of Production</span> Zeynep Aldemir</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Art Direction by</span> Ecem Tungaz</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Content Editor</span> Yağmur Yıldız</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Hair by</span> Mustafa Akgül</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">MUA</span>  Aslı Bilge</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Fashion Team</span> Murat Kıvık, Samiye Seda Korkmaz</p>


Tone Up


<p><strong><strong>Arnaud Ele stands out not only with his fashion photography but also for his documentary series in Switzerland and Cameroon, and his many video collaborations with artists, singers and dancers from the Swiss art scene. He works on codes and associated representations, as well as identity. While he describes being a photographer as “challenging but exciting”, Arnaud Ele believes that there is always something new to discover. </strong></strong></p>



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<p><strong>“Wherever I go, I focus on the notion of intimacy. Wondering about the ways of inhabiting the territories and their uses, as well as the way in which nature and human occupation intertwine, I have always endeavored to push back the limits of the documentary. I aim to reveal, under the innocuous appearance of my scenes, hidden stories. I defend the view of the human eye as a method of recording and intimacy as a mode of description. My photographic work is the continuity of my training as a filmmaker: the intuitive scenario of the image, the exploration of new narrative forms representing the moment with veracity.” </strong></p>
<cite>Arnaud Ele</cite></blockquote>



<p><strong>This period represents a process of pushing his “diversity approach and what it means to be inclusive” further for Arnaud Ele, who has been living in Berlin for 6 years and discovering the queer scene. “Berlin as a city is intense. Every day is a new encounter. Berlin is dark and I do love to reveal its beauty. I do feel home here, even if often I don’t. This paradox pushes me to be alive and explore every minute of my time as a Berliner”. “Making people dream” is the greatest form of motivation for Arnaud, who produces works on different cultures, focusing on the communities around him. </strong></p>



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<p class="font-nimbus-extended has-large-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:800">How are you feeling these days?</p>



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<p class="font-nimbus-extended has-large-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:800">Dream or reality?</p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1454" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/02-Dream-or-reality_2_11zon-1024x1454.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52915" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/02-Dream-or-reality_2_11zon-1024x1454.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/02-Dream-or-reality_2_11zon-360x511.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/02-Dream-or-reality_2_11zon-680x965.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/02-Dream-or-reality_2_11zon-1082x1536.jpg 1082w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/02-Dream-or-reality_2_11zon-1443x2048.jpg 1443w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/02-Dream-or-reality_2_11zon-16x23.jpg 16w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/02-Dream-or-reality_2_11zon-scaled.jpg 1803w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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<p class="font-nimbus-extended has-large-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:800">Any advice for creatives?</p>



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<p class="font-nimbus-extended has-large-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:800">Being overwhelmed is like;</p>



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<p class="font-nimbus-extended has-large-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:800">Define being original.</p>



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<p class="font-nimbus-extended has-large-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:800">What does hope mean to you?</p>



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<p class="font-nimbus-extended has-large-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:800">How was 2022 so far?</p>



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<p class="font-nimbus-extended has-large-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:800">Your biggest dream?</p>



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<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">In Conversation with </span>Duygu Bengi</p>


The Notion of Intimacy


<h2><strong><strong>The images that come out of LA-based Neil Krug’s photography studio are truly out of this world. Creating surreal images with a focus on landscape and the body form, Neil’s practice has entranced his audience, from celebrity clients to galleries to fashion houses. From the dark, moody emotions evoked in the Phantom series that arose from the artist’s dreams to shooting the Givenchy SS19 haute couture collection, Neil has done it all. Focusing on making pictures “that’ll make grandma faint”, we spoke with Neil to learn the behind the scenes methods of making his ideas come to life. </strong></strong></h2>



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<p><strong>Your images have a surreal, dream-like quality to them, specifically referencing the Phantom: Stage One and Spirit collections. These two bodies of work at once feel dark, catastrophic, and yet highly utopic. Can you talk a little bit more about these two bodies of work, some of your ideas/inspirations, and what they mean to you? </strong><br><strong>Neil Krug:</strong> I know what you mean and I see the same in both projects, despite the inspirations being opposite.<br>The Phantom project initially wasn’t anything but a reoccurring dream I was having several years ago. For whatever reason the spirits must’ve been summoning something within my subconscious; the imagery came to me consistently whilst sleeping and for the most part fully-formed –– which doesn’t happen that often in my case.<br>For me, if an idea continues to present itself time and again, I generally run with it.<br>The atmosphere of the Phantom works is, in some way, the narrative of the work itself.</p>



<p><strong>In Phantom: Stage One the female figure takes center stage. What’s the message behind the prominence of these bodies? </strong><br><strong>Neil Krug:</strong> Kaiman Kazazian played all the roles in the entire stage one installment of Phantom. It’s a character and performance that demanded a herculean focus and attention to detail, which I’m still impressed with when I look at the photographs.<br>From the moment I released the work, I’ve had people ask “What’s the message of the work,” which I think is best answered by returning to the place where the ideas came from: dreams.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p class="font-snell" style="font-size:54px">&#8221;&nbsp;I just take the time to make what <em>I want to happen, happen.&#8221;</em></p>
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<p><strong><strong>What does your process look like? What does the technical aspect of creating these magical photographs entail? </strong></strong><br><strong>Neil Krug: </strong>The process of making the Phantom imagery is without a doubt the most brutal. A person sitting on their phone or computer viewing the work probably doesn’t see it that way. The locations are unforgiving, the shoots are long, and the edit is a beast that defies wrangling.<br>The project demands the most of me creatively and physically.<br>Technically, making the work is a mixture of tools and tricks I’ve been developing for the last decade. When I’m an old man and ready to hang up my hat, I’ll probably give away all the secrets.</p>



<p><strong><strong>What inspires you the most?</strong></strong><br><strong>Neil Krug: </strong>I’m at a point in my life where I don’t feel like that answer can be put into words.</p>



<p><br><strong><strong>You directed and photographed the Givenchy Haute Couture SS19 collection. In your eyes, how does moving image differ from, or complement, photography?</strong></strong><br><strong>Neil Krug: </strong>That entire campaign was filmed and photographed in under 4 hours, if you can believe it.<br>I was blessed to have a talented crew who understood the creative objective as if it was their own. I collaborated with the great cinematographer Katelin Arizmendi, which undoubtedly made the piece as strong as it is.<br>I don’t differentiate the photography and motion; in this case, I wanted both to blend seamlessly.</p>



<p><strong><strong>Why photography? What do you find so appealing about the medium?</strong></strong><br><strong>Neil Krug: </strong>There is no specific answer I can give. I try not to get overly analytical about a question like that, but what I do know is that I love making images and I presume that will always be the case. It’s the only thing that I’ve been obsessed with since I was a kid, and it’s a journey that has been proven to be the defining purpose of my life.</p>



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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><strong>‘‘The stories I’m often attracted to in other artist’s works are often the inexplicable narratives. The world building has been done so effectively that the viewer can lose themselves in the setting.’’</strong></p>
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<p><br><strong><strong>What stories are you looking to tell through your photographs? Do you think those stories are mirrored onto your audiences? </strong></strong><br><strong>Neil Krug: </strong>The stories I’m often attracted to in other artist’s works are often the inexplicable narratives. The world building has been done so effectively that the viewer can lose themselves in the setting.<br>I remember seeing a collection of Eikoh Hosoe’s work years ago in-person and being struck by the wildness of the imagery and the expression of the B&amp;W tones. Stunning imagery to say the least. To this day, I’m unaware of what his [Hosoe] work means literally, and I think it’s best that way. It’s almost like a feeling of an unresolved romance.<br>It lingers.<br>I hope the audience has enjoyed my work in a similar fashion. It’s impossible to know though.</p>



<p><strong>You’re announcing campaigns and new series of work soon – can you tell us a little more? </strong><br><strong>Neil Krug:</strong> There is a lot on the horizon for myself and my gang of collaborators—some of which I am not at liberty to speak on yet. But, what I can share with you is that my studio collaborator, Kaiman Kazazian, and I have been hard at working putting together two projects simultaneously. Both works fall into the category of the freakout-splintered aesthetic and almost feel like a return to form for me. Any time I get the chance to make the kind of imagery that’ll make grandma faint, I know I’m on the right track.</p>



<p><strong>Last question: What does hope mean to you?</strong><br><strong>Neil Krug:</strong> I try not to hope for anything. I just take the time to make what I want to happen, happen.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Interview by</span> Ethan Ekin Dinçer</p>



<p>FROM BASED ISTANBUL NO41: HOPE ISSUE&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://shop.basedistanbul.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buy your copy now!</a></p>


Inhabiting The Surreal Dream Scape


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<p class="has-text-align-left"></p>






The Future Is You


<h2><strong>Merve Erdem and Kit Martin are two halves of Kit Sebastian. Formed in London in 2018, the band created a sound that is quite unique, in which they integrate different styles of music. Kit is a multi-instrumentalist and composer who has been interested in music since childhood. Merve is a multidisciplinary artist; besides the vocals of the group, she also directs the music videos herself. The songs they added an original interpretation with their touch; brings together polyphony ranging from Anatolian melodies to psychedelic rock, from French pop to jazz all in one channel. Capturing a unique aesthetic visually as well as audibly, the duo manages to make their retro-inspired world dominant in every area. We met with the duo, who came to Istanbul as part of the Mix Festival, in the backstage of Zorlu PSM and learn more about their inspiration process.</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Is there a story behind the name Kit Sebastian?</strong>&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Merve Erdem:</strong> It&#8217;s just a name that bears no relation to anything. We think it’s a memorable name that sounds nice.</p>



<p><strong>You have a very unique sound, which integrates different styles. How would you describe your music?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit Martin:</strong> We never try to describe our music because the way we create music is not very conscious, but we suppose we can say it&#8217;s &#8216;Funk which contains melancholy&#8217;.</p>



<p><strong>Does your interest in music come from childhood? Growing up, was there anyone in the family interested in music?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> I had a guitar and a cassette player/recorder so I would experiment with sound a lot as a kid, like musique concrete. I only learnt music theory after this in my late teens.</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> I used to play a bit of keyboard as a child, writing simple vocal melodies and lyrics. I grew up listening to a lot of TSM, Turkish folk and pop music.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>&#8221;I think the worse compliment I’ve ever received was ‘I love the samples you’ve used in your music&#8221;</p>
<cite>Kit Martin</cite></blockquote>



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<p><strong>Creating something collaboratively with someone is very different from working alone. What is your creative process like?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> Both spaces of creation have different benefits and hurdles. We mix them, usually the starting point comes during isolation. We work on our own, then we meet, ideas are bounced around and put together.</p>



<p><strong>What has been the most unexpected challenge for you during your musical journey?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> Before we were signed or had released anything, creating music, music videos and organising photoshoots was quite scary when we didn&#8217;t know if it would ever be released.</p>



<p><strong>Merve: </strong>The first 2 years of Kit Sebastian (after we got signed) I also had some demanding full time jobs in film production, working almost 6-7 days a week, late hours. Initially I thought I could handle it but it was quite tough to keep it together.</p>



<p><strong>Living or dead, which artist would you like to perform on stage with? (Except Selda Bağcan)</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> I think the Turkish percussionist Okay Temiz would bring a lot to our music.</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> It’d have been so cool to rearrange our songs and play with an orchestra conducted by Morricone.</p>



<p><strong>We can feel the touch of 60s and 70s in your sound. But which era of music you feel the most distant from?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> I&#8217;ve never really felt close to a lot of the music that came out of the 90s, both the production and spirit feels quite alien to me.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> 40’s Swing</p>



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<p><strong>Music is both very timeless and very periodical. The past is a constant source of inspiration, but sounds continue to evolve. How do you think music will change in the future?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit: </strong>I think people are bored of being alone, after the alienation caused by an inflated housing market meaning people can&#8217;t live near each other and lockdowns from the pandemic. I think music will become more of a group exercise and less insular.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> I hope that the availability of different genres and eras of music will expand people’s music tastes, will make music industry more inclusive and we’ll get out of the tyranny of music sung in English and start enjoying other languages more, discovering the richness of musicality that each language and territory have.</p>



<p><strong>Having the biggest record collection? Or being able to play every instrument?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> Playing every instrument, but badly so interesting musical accidents arise out of it.</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> Playing every instrument, for sure!</p>



<p><strong>Where do you look when you need inspiration?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong>&nbsp; Watching an Eastern European film or a walk in the countryside.</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> I just like being alone, watching more films, listening and reading more. Singing the songs that make me feel something special. Creating a more selective connection to reality.  </p>



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<p><strong>Where is your dream concert venue?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit: </strong>Baku jazz centre</p>



<p><strong>Merve: </strong>The Ancient theatre of Taormina</p>



<p><strong>You both have a background in film. Common interests like this brought you together. Your music videos are directed by Merve and have a strong visual language. So, what is your all time favorite music video?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Merve</strong>: I don’t have all time’s favourite but the first ones that come to my mind is Justice &#8211; Stress or Les Parisiennes &#8211; On reçoit, on envoie</p>



<p><strong>You have the chance to compose the soundtrack of any movie you want; which movie would you choose?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> Loves of a Blonde &#8211; Miloš Forman</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> Images &#8211; Robert Altman</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>‘&#8217;I hope that the availability of different genres and eras of music will expand people’s music tastes, will make music industry more inclusive and we’ll get out of the tyranny of music sung in English and start enjoying other languages more, discovering the richness of musicality that each language and territory have.’&#8217;</p>
<cite>Merve Erdem</cite></blockquote>



<p><strong>Favorite album cover of all time?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> Vagif Mustafazadeh &#8211; Джазовые Композиции</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> Banda Black Rio &#8211; Maria Fumaca (makes me happy to look at it and I love this album so much!)</p>



<p><strong>What&#8217;s the worst compliment you&#8217;ve ever received?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> &#8220;I love the samples you’ve used in your music”.</p>



<p><strong>If you could give one piece of advice to each other</strong>’<strong>s 2017 version, what would it be?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> Do everything you can yourself, not just out of necessity but out of the spirit of DIY.</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> Move abroad for a few years, possibly to a Mediterranean country and expose yourself to life out of your comfort zone more.</p>



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<p><strong>What do you enjoy doing most in Istanbul?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> Buying musical instrument shops near Galata Tower then playing them by the Bosphorus.</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> Walking by the Bosphorus or taking a ferry or meeting a good friend and talk for hours in a cafe</p>



<p><strong>In a book about your life, what would be the title of this chapter you</strong>’<strong>re currently in?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> Chapter 28</p>



<p><strong>What</strong>’<strong>s next on your reading list?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> Everything was forever, until it was no more</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> Writings on Cinema &#8211; Germaine Dulac</p>



<p><strong>A dream you have about the future that excites you?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit:</strong> New music, new directions, new instruments.</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> More music, more gigs, new video projects, fresh collaborations, longer holidays, less time in London and around Londoners</p>



<p><strong>A musician or band you discovered recently?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kit: </strong>SOYUZ (СОЮ3)</p>



<p><strong>Merve:</strong> Soyuz also for me, more people should discover and listen to them!</p>



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<p class="has-text-align-right"><span class="font-snell">Interview by</span> Yağmur Yıldız<br><span class="font-snell">Photography by</span> Yağız Yeşilkaya</p>



<p>FROM BASED ISTANBUL NO41: HOPE ISSUE&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://shop.basedistanbul.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buy your copy now!</a></p>


Two Halves of Funk Melancholia


<h2><strong>American playwright David Mamet’s favored text Oleanna is adapted under the name “Sınırlar”. The play is produced by Versus Tiyatro and 484 Urban Garden while Kenan Ece and Ecem Uzun are performing as the key protagonists. As Ecrin visits her teacher Can’s room to object to her exam grades, a duel where nothing will remain the same for either of them begins, and the course of events gradually becomes more and more interesting. Being sure that the play will present a lot of discussion material to its audiences, we asked the director Kayhan Berkin, along with actors Kenan Ece and Ecem Uzun about the curious details.</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Why and how did you come up with the idea of adapting &#8216;Sınırlar&#8217; and putting it on stage this season?</strong></p>



<p><strong>Kayhan Berkin:</strong> Oleanna &#8211; or &#8216;Sınırlar&#8217;, in our version on stage &#8211; was a play I wanted to put on stage for a long time; I’ve always considered the texts that don’t provide answers, those that ask questions and seek answers instead, and involve the audience to this process more interesting. Power and the ways of using power is an issue on my agenda. And &#8216;Sınırlar&#8217; is one of the best texts written on this subject. I have made adaptations of novels and movies before, but I never localized them. &#8216;Sınırlar&#8217; allowed that and I can say that it helped me improve my adaptation skills.</p>



<p><strong>Why did you choose the name “&#8217;Sınırlar&#8217;” in particular?</strong></p>



<p><strong>K.B:</strong> The name Oleanna means nothing to our audience, so we were required to choose a new name, which needed to suit both our adaptation and the original text. The play we stage deals with many issues as well as boundaries &#8211; the boundaries of the room where the student and the teacher are stuck in throughout the play, the positionings in the room, the distance between the bodies that move towards and away, the adjustments of these distances in the shadow of hierarchy, the way the words are used and even the boundaries of the tone of voice that is used while uttering those words are among the play’s issues. We can say that the play is a border war where power balance shifts constantly.</p>



<p><strong>What were the things you particularly paid attention to when staging this “duel”?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>K.B:</strong> While trying to understand each character both during adaptation and performance, we also strived to make it meaningful for today’s Turkish audience as a team.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Did you pick a side unintentionally as a director?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>K.B:</strong> I’d like to believe that I didn’t.&nbsp;</p>



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<p><strong>Have you questioned the boundaries in your life during this process?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>K.B</strong>: One of the greatest benefits of any play rehearsal is that this process allows the director to review the issues the play deals with in detail. During this inspection, you necessarily have the opportunity to review your life experiences on that subject. Every play I’ve directed changed me at least a little.&nbsp;</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><strong><em>There’s no listening and understanding one another completely throughout the play</em></strong></p>
<cite>Ecem Uzun</cite></blockquote>



<p></p>



<p><strong>How did you feel the first time you read Ecrin?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Ecem Uzun:</strong> Oleanna was a text I knew from school, I was familiar with the female protagonist’s story, but there were times I felt similar to her attitude, her struggle with the current educational system and power. When reading Ecrin, I thought she was brave. Sometimes I got angry, sometimes I tried to understand, maybe trying to understand would be the right attitude. I tried to understand Ecrin’s life, her background, family and emotions all together.</p>



<p><strong>How was Ecrin’s rehearsal journey? How did you form the way you handled the character?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>E.U:</strong> I associated Ecrin with her struggle to survive and exist. I examined her anger and need to be understood. I questioned her feelings at the class, the school, among her friends. &nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>When do you think Can and Ecrin lost their ability to communicate?</strong></p>



<p><strong>E.U:</strong> It wouldn’t be correct to associate it with a single moment. In fact, their communication goes back and forth throughout the play. We think for a moment that they can finally get along but it breaks down again. Maybe there’s no listening and understanding one another completely throughout the play. The ringing of the phone, the interference of the outside world and personal weaknesses are the greatest causes of this.&nbsp;</p>



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<p><strong>If you had the chance to intervene in the duo&#8217;s &#8220;duel&#8221;, what would you say to whom?</strong></p>



<p><strong>E.U:</strong> To Ecrin, I might have said “Get out of that room”, just say what you will and get out. Be respectful, first about your boundaries, then Can’s. Because the longer she stays, ’e belki “Çık o odadan” derdim, derdini söyle ve çık. Önce kendi, sonra Can’ın sınırlarına saygılı ol. Because the more she stays, the bigger losses in the power balance occur.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>What feeling evoked in you while acting as Ecrin?</strong></p>



<p><strong>E.U:</strong> I felt free and powerful. Some viewers agree with Can, others with Ecrin. I felt powerful as one of the characters who started this discussion.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Have you questioned the boundaries in your life during the play?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>E.U: </strong>Yes, I have questioned many things that seem normal to me in my own social relations, especially in social spaces.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><strong><em>Issues such as gender politics and generating power through human relations were approached very intensely in the play.</em></strong></p>
<cite>Kenan Ece</cite></blockquote>



<p></p>



<p><strong>What were your thoughts when you first read Can?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>K.E</strong>: When I read the play, the first thing that caught my attention were the issues it discussed. Issues such as gender politics and generating power through human relations were approached very intensely in the play. As for Can, I thought he would be an enjoyable character to seek out, discover and perform.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1337" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Photo03_3-scaled-1-1024x1337.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-54191" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Photo03_3-scaled-1-1024x1337.webp 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Photo03_3-scaled-1-360x470.webp 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Photo03_3-scaled-1-680x888.webp 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Photo03_3-scaled-1-1176x1536.webp 1176w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Photo03_3-scaled-1-16x21.webp 16w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Photo03_3-scaled-1.webp 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p><strong>How was Can’s rehearsal journey? How did you form the way you represented the character?&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>K.E:</strong> The playwright David Mamet has already created the character in detail on paper. My part was analyzing what Can said and didn’t, and interpret the character in my own way. It is a tough text to memorize, sometimes the characters speak out of order, without a certain line of thought. They often just continue the conversation by following their own thoughts and not listening to the other. As you keep up with the memorization, a rhythm that brought about the play emerges. As the rhythm was uncovered, the act took form.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>When do you think Can and Ecrin lost their ability to communicate?</strong></p>



<p><strong>K.E</strong>: It&#8217;s hard to put water in Can&#8217;s glass, it&#8217;s already full. He has had a successful journey and looks at things from certain angles. Sometimes he speaks by rote, without understanding the other. He internalized and accepted what bothers Ecrin for his own benefit. Even though what he says has philosophical foundations, he has no idea how it can affect the other. Ecrin, on the other hand, is confused. She’s an unsuccessful student but she has no intention to blame herself for her failings. She can falter when asked why she went to college. She’s part of an association and that’s how she figures out the source of power. She believes the source of her failure resides in social power relations rather than herself. Can’s attitude points out that she’s not completely wrong.</p>



<p><strong>If you had the chance to intervene in the duo&#8217;s &#8220;duel&#8221;, what would you say to whom?</strong></p>



<p><strong>K.E:</strong> I would tell Can to weigh his words according to his student’s psychology. He can be more sensitive towards a young person who struggles while searching for her personality during a challenge. As an educator, he should be doing this anyway, the fact that he doesn&#8217;t shows that he is not as good an educator as he thought. I would tell Ecrin that no matter how insensitive he acts, Can is not a bad person, and try to listen to what he actually means instead of caring about the attitude, even though it’s hard.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1337" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/unnamed-file-scaled-1-1024x1337.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-54192" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/unnamed-file-scaled-1-1024x1337.webp 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/unnamed-file-scaled-1-360x470.webp 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/unnamed-file-scaled-1-680x888.webp 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/unnamed-file-scaled-1-1176x1536.webp 1176w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/unnamed-file-scaled-1-16x21.webp 16w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/unnamed-file-scaled-1.webp 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>


A Play That Discusses Power and The Ways Of Using It: Sınırlar


<p><strong>İki zıt dünya düşünün…<br>Yaşadıklarınız ve tanık olduklarınız. Ya da başka bir boyuta geçin; biri dijital, biri fiziksel. Önce kendinize, sonra etrafınızı saran insanlara inanın. Dünyadan bağımsız değiliz; denge kurmanın, uyumlanmanın, devam etmenin, her şeye rağmen ayakta kalmanın bir yolunu bulmamız gerekiyor.</strong></p>



<p><strong>Ve bu, bir meydan okuma. Bu, umut. Bu, her zaman bir çıkış yolu olduğuna inanma hali.</strong></p>



<p><strong>Şu ana dönün; umut bir aciliyet. Umudu radikal bir eylem olarak yeniden konumlandırmak ise devam etmek demek.</strong></p>



<p><strong>Tanımlar sorgulanmak, umut ise yaşamak için var. Bu ne bir başlangıç, ne de bir son – bu yolculuğun ta kendisi!</strong></p>



<p><strong>Bu yolculukta bize eşlik eden, yan yana durabilmenin inanılmaz ruh halini paylaşan ve her ihtimale karşı bundan vazgeçmeyen, biz olabilen herkese sevgilerimle!</strong></p>



<p><strong>Birlikte hayal etmek; umudu paylaşmak… Yaşadığımız bu coğrafyadaki tüm “vazgeç”lere aldırmadan anda olabilmek; sanırım bu şimdinin gücü ve o içimizde saklı.</strong></p>



<p><strong>Satın almak için&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.basedistanbul.com/product/based_istanbul_hope_issue-14" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tıklayın.</a></strong></p>


BASED ISTANBUL NO 41


<h2>With the support of Qatar Museums, Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson&#8217;s installation ‘Shadows Traveling on the Sea of the Day’ (2022), developed specifically for the location, met with the audience.</h2>



<p>The installation overshadowed by the surrounding desert; allows viewers to look up and see themselves on Earth below, invites its viewers to &#8220;re-sync&#8221; with the planet.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="818" height="600" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-2-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52697" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-2-1.jpg 818w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-2-1-360x264.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-2-1-680x499.jpg 680w" sizes="(max-width: 818px) 100vw, 818px" /></figure>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Image Credit Iwan Baan</h6>



<p>Eliasson advocates the role of art as a &#8216;channel of dialogue and listening’. He describes the installation “Everything that exists in and moves in the desert area north of Doha – animals, plants and humans; stories, traditions and cultural artifacts; Defining it as a celebration of wind, sunlight, air and radiant heat’’.&nbsp;“I hope that the space for self-reflection that I try to present in my art will provide alternative, productive means for us to meet each other across communities and cultures,” says Eliasson. Unlike activism, it marks a slow, winding and deep path.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="818" height="600" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-3-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52698" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-3-1.jpg 818w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-3-1-360x264.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-3-1-680x499.jpg 680w" sizes="(max-width: 818px) 100vw, 818px" /></figure>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Image Credit Iwan Baan</h6>



<p>Audience interacting through mirrors; They watch each other explore space, witness others stare at each other, perhaps test whether they are the person they are looking at.</p>



<p>Olafur aims for the installation to break away from the outside world with the slow steps of the visitors and to establish a different connection with nature with its reflections in the desert: “This is a kind of reality check of your connection to the ground. While you are standing tight on the sand, you are hanging upside down from a place far above you.” And adds; “The adjacent mirrors also reflect the steel structures, creating a sea of connections. Reflection becomes virtual compositions that change as you move. What you perceive—the landscape, the sprawling sculptural elements, and the intermingling of visitors—becomes hyper-realistic before it becomes fully apparent.”</p>



<p>As you strengthen your sense of presence with work connecting to the oscillations between perspectives, the curvy structures disappear in the environment, dematerialize and become the landscape.</p>



<p>The installation aims to be “an exploration into the interplay of human perception and nature over the years”.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="818" height="600" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-1-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52699" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-1-1.jpg 818w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-1-1-360x264.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Image-28.10.2022-at-17.27-1-1-680x499.jpg 680w" sizes="(max-width: 818px) 100vw, 818px" /></figure>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Image Credit Iwan Baan</h6>


Olafur Eliasson Invites You To Re-Sync With The Planet!


<h2><strong>Sometimes it is inevitable to feel as if you are disappearing in the crowds of Istanbul. The tempo of the city, the style of the streets, the sounds rising from the city; all of them are a part of Istanbul. Beymen Club invites you to immerse yourself in the flow of the city this season. Güneş Ekin Sarıtaş, one of those who finds herself getting lost in the city, told us about her style and the energy of the city.</strong></h2>



<p><strong>What does fashion mean to you?</strong></p>



<p>Fashion for me means pursuing what I like, passion and being limitless.</p>



<p><strong>How would you describe your personal style?</strong></p>



<p>A mix of old and new. I can never give up on the classics, so it would be correct to describe my style as classic combined with new styles.</p>



<p><strong>How does it make you feel to be on the street?</strong></p>



<p>Sometimes stuck, sometimes free.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-daze_wrapper_width"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1140" height="839" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-03-1-1140x839.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52638" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-03-1-1140x839.jpg 1140w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-03-1-360x265.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-03-1-1024x754.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-03-1-680x501.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-03-1-1536x1131.jpg 1536w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-03-1-2048x1508.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What happens when you immerse yourself in the rhythm of the city?</strong></p>



<p>Time just flows. Istanbul is such a city that when you immerse yourself in the rhythm of the city, it is impossible not to return home with exciting memories.</p>



<p><strong>Background music of Istanbul for you?</strong></p>



<p>Stromae &#8211; Formidable</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe title="Spotify Embed: Formidable" style="border-radius: 12px" width="100%" height="152" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/2AMysGXOe0zzZJMtH3Nizb?si=ce223e7eefe845fd&#038;utm_source=oembed"></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p><strong>A signature look for the winter?</strong></p>



<p>A mini dress, knee-high boots and stamp coat/jacket</p>



<p><strong>Most recent piece you got for your wardrobe?</strong></p>



<p>Vintage Gucci pointed toe slippers</p>



<p><strong>Your favorite piece from Beymen Club’s new season?</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-daze_wrapper_width"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1140" height="841" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-04-1-1140x841.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52637" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-04-1-1140x841.jpg 1140w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-04-1-360x266.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-04-1-1024x755.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-04-1-680x502.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-04-1-1536x1133.jpg 1536w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-04-1-2048x1511.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px" /></figure>



<p><strong>A well-known misconception about Istanbul?</strong></p>



<p>Time management is not up to anyone, but it’s up to the city. Programming doesn&#8217;t work here.</p>



<p><strong>A movie that best describes Istanbul?</strong></p>



<p>Sevmek Zamanı</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>I have always loved to experiment with pieces and incorporate my personal touch to my style. To keep my fashion perception up to date I follow magazines and brands I love religiously. Rather than following trendy pieces, I incorporate pieces I already own to fit current trends. Sometimes my personal style won’t follow trends at all.</p>
</blockquote>



<p><strong>How does fashion complement you to express yourself?</strong></p>



<p>Fashion is my mood changer. My mood for the day decides what I will be wearing that day. I feel like I&#8217;m getting into different roles with the clothes I wear.</p>



<p><strong>How do you increase your motivation?</strong></p>



<p>High heels and some nice tunes.</p>



<p><strong>What has changed since the early days when design, fashion and styling started to be a topic in your life? What kind of effort do you make to keep your fashion perception up to date?</strong></p>



<p>I was into fashion ever since I was a little kid. I have this memory of when I styled some garter stockings at the age of 4 and my mother was horrified. I have always loved to experiment with pieces and incorporate my personal touch to my style. To keep my fashion perception up to date I follow magazines and brands I love religiously. Rather than following trendy pieces, I incorporate pieces I already own to fit current trends. Sometimes my personal style won’t follow trends at all.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-daze_wrapper_width"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1140" height="823" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-02-2-1140x823.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52639" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-02-2-1140x823.jpg 1140w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-02-2-360x260.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-02-2-1024x739.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-02-2-680x491.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-02-2-1536x1109.jpg 1536w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/gunesekin_street_weblayout-02-2-2048x1479.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px" /></figure>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Creative Direction by Duygu Bengi⁠</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Fashion Director Burak Sanuk</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Interview by Yağmur Yıldız⁠</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Photography by Yağız Yeşilkaya</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Fashion Editor Yağmur Kural</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Creative Team Murat Kıvık, Öykü Önen</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Fashion Team Tugay Tunç, Melisa Yakupoğlu</h6>


Güneş Ekin Sarıtaş at Citybooth


<h2><strong>Sometimes it is inevitable to feel as if you are disappearing in the crowds of Istanbul. The tempo of the city, the style of the streets, the sounds rising from the city; all of them are a part of Istanbul. Beymen Club invites you to immerse yourself in the flow of the city this season. Emir Elidemir, one of those who found himself while trying to escape the city, told us about his style and Istanbul.</strong></h2>



<p><strong>What does fashion mean to you?</strong></p>



<p>For me, fashion means standing out from the ordinary. Showing off your personal stye.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>How would you describe your personal style?</strong></p>



<p>When I was little, I used to spend my summers with my uncle in America. That’s when I realized I preferred oversized and comfortable styles more. I also follow fashion brands that I find contradictory and adapt them to my own style.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-daze_wrapper_width"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1140" height="847" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-03-1140x847.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52624" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-03-1140x847.jpg 1140w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-03-360x268.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-03-1024x761.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-03-680x506.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-03-1536x1142.jpg 1536w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-03-2048x1523.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px" /></figure>



<p><strong>How does it make you feel to be on the street?</strong></p>



<p>Wandering around the streets is like meditation for me. While walking through crowded streets, I feel as if I am getting lost in society and becoming a part of the whole. That’s why I love going for long walks.</p>



<p><strong>What happens when you immerse yourself in the rhythm of the city?</strong></p>



<p>Istanbul is a fast city. There are so many events happening. I can find myself wandering from place to place during the day. That’s why I try to spend more time in the office.</p>



<p><strong>Background music of Istanbul for you?</strong></p>



<p>Perturbator &#8211; Future Club &nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe title="Spotify Embed: Future Club" style="border-radius: 12px" width="100%" height="152" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/20ztml2STRF7Sq1UaBB6ox?si=51715c3c4c42443b&#038;utm_source=oembed"></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p><strong>What is a signature look for the winter?</strong></p>



<p>All black looks.</p>



<p><strong>The last piece you bought for your wardrobe?</strong></p>



<p>Balenciaga slippers</p>



<p><strong>Your favorite piece from Beymen Club’s new season?</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-daze_wrapper_width"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1140" height="851" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-02-1-1140x851.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52621" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-02-1-1140x851.jpg 1140w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-02-1-360x269.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-02-1-1024x765.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-02-1-680x508.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-02-1-1536x1147.jpg 1536w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/emirelidemir_street_weblayout-02-1-2048x1529.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px" /></figure>



<p><strong>A well-known misconception about Istanbul?</strong></p>



<p>I do not believe when they say falsely known facts or vice versa. There are facts; and anyone living in Istanbul or spends time here, faces these facts at one point or another. &nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>A movie that best describes Istanbul?</strong></p>



<p>Istanbul is such a special city that it is very difficult for a single film to describe it. But Duvara Karşı and Eşkıya would be great examples.&nbsp;</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>Wandering around the streets is like meditation for me. While walking through crowded streets, I feel as if I am getting lost in society and becoming a part of the whole. </p>
</blockquote>



<p><strong>Where do you get your inspiration for new flavor discoveries?</strong></p>



<p>I always try to go to new restaurants. From the corner fast food kiosk to a fine dining restaurant, I try different tastes. You can find something you can grab from each kitchen.</p>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Creative Direction by Duygu Bengi⁠</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Fashion Director Burak Sanuk</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Interview by Yağmur Yıldız⁠</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Photography by Yağız Yeşilkaya</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Fashion Editor Yağmur Kural</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Creative Team Murat Kıvık, Öykü Önen</h6>



<h6 class="has-text-align-right">Fashion Team Tugay Tunç, Melisa Yakupoğlu</h6>


Emir Elidemir at Citybooth


<h2><strong>As one of the prominent movies of Filmekimi, and the one we put on our watch list with some extra interest for having the same producers with The Worst Person in the World &#8211; which had some strong repercussions lately &#8211; <em>Sick of Myself</em> is a brilliant dark comedy about today’s world where those who “perform” without standing out gets “eliminated.”</strong></h2>



<p>Sick of Myself opens in a birthday celebration with Signe, whom we perceive in the first minutes to be self-obsessed, together with her boyfriend and apparently partner in crime Thomas, a contemporary artist. Desperate to be noticed even when stealing, Signe wasn’t able to bear losing the spotlights to Thomas, who’s advancing in his career; and as she tests her extremes for attracting attention, we realize that this dark comedy is not that farfetched at all.</p>



<p>Although it seems simply “narcissistic” that Signe almost believes her own lies that she made up in order not to lose attention, and for doing unimaginable things so people speak of nothing else but her, it also makes us think that the problem is beyond narcissism. Not being able to live without the applause of others, can Signe be the augmented reality of us or some people we know quite well?</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-daze_wrapper_width"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1140" height="616" src="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-2-1140x616.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52608" srcset="https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-2-1140x616.jpg 1140w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-2-360x195.jpg 360w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-2-1024x554.jpg 1024w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-2-680x368.jpg 680w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-2-1536x830.jpg 1536w, https://cms.basedistanbul.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-2.jpg 1998w" sizes="(max-width: 1140px) 100vw, 1140px" /></figure>



<p>We think that the war of <em>existence through the appreciation and recognition of others</em> has taken its wildest form in recent years. In today&#8217;s world, where people who are not on social media are deemed not alive, and Andy Warhol&#8217;s 15-minute celebrity status (Reminiscing the famous quote: &#8220;In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.&#8221;) is reduced to mere minutes, and even seconds, anything and everything is about &#8220;us.&#8221; As being the people who don’t listen, or merely anticipate the turn to speak while pretending to listen, and who hide likes on social media because ratings don’t seem enough; as people who have nothing they wouldn’t do to be talked about in this day and age, when the most absurd is the most interesting; we can’t help but ask “How far would I go?” while laughing at the paths Signe resorts to.</p>



<p>Sick of Myself is a very delightful movie in which dark humor elements are successfully implemented, making quite accurate observations on this era and surroundings, emphasizing that underperformers are eliminated from today’s world, where everyone seems to deliver a performance, while showing that the desire for flattery have already taken the place of self-esteem and its limits are immense. A movie that can be classified as a non-romantic comedy, Sick of Myself will probably hit the theaters soon. Don&#8217;t miss out on it!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe title="Spotify Embed: Sick of Myself" style="border-radius: 12px" width="100%" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/4LvCUHbLKISrXxxDgbUn20?si=88ed143de6824dd3&#038;utm_source=oembed"></iframe>
</div></figure>
