There is Another World: Ali Emir Tapan
Galerist hosts Ali Emir Tapan’s second solo show ‘There Is Another World’ between March 27th and April 25th, 2015. While considering the insecurity of glorified percepts, Tapan also creates glitches in reality on the crossroads of imaginary and real forms throught utilizing various medias.
In ‘There is Another World’, while attributing novel meanings to objects, Tapan presents incomplete stories to the audience. A metronome welcomes us at the entrance of the exhibition. Moving with the rhythm of an inaudible song, it symbolizes the heartbeats of a potential universe suggested by Tapan. Circuses insinuate the presence of a better world; a limbo-like realm between reality and dream. Tapan takes a magnified replica of a 19th century circus ball out of this illusionary world and situates it in two way mirror cube accompanied by lights. The lights, resembling a semi-organic entity, are synchronized with Ali Emir Tapan’s breathing, transforming the work into a live sculpture.
The artist selects objects that serve the desire and instinct to become a part of this society, and presents them through a metaphoric perspective. A lock of hair is first encountered as a wall installation. Then it is seen as a digitally collaged two-dimensional form that stands somewhere between a Tibetian mandala and Boticelli’s Venus.
Tapan’s experimental technique and process-oriented production leads us to observe the evolution of his materials and their existence in implied alternative dimensions. Just like the hair locks, which transform as we move through the space of the exhibition, the glass globes evolve into transparent planets or forms reminiscent of the last days of a continent.
Inquiring the subconscious of man and animals, Ali Emir Tapan makes use of the metaphorical power of semi-domesticated animal figures like horses and dogs. He invites the audience to build their own area of interaction against these animal communes.
Tapan’s works reflect the mystical and poetic representations of physical life. He creates objects that belong both to dreams and the real world. In his show ‘There is Another World’, Tapan does not only disclose the presence of a better world, but also reveals the tension of an uncanny belonging and alienation to the world we live in.
