ATEM-NEFES

Bilsart is hosting Mehtap Baydu’s exhibition entitled “Atem-Nefes” between November 3-12 in a collaboration with Galeri Nev and Tarabya Culture Academy.

As part of the Berliner Herbstsalon exhibition, Scotty e.V. Performance in a storefront in Kreuzberg, Berlin

Volume of the space: 15 cubic meters

Balloon: 15 cubic meters

Display window: 2.5 meters

Performed in Berlin from 30 October to 17 November 2019, daily from 4pm to 8pm.

A human being breathes appx. 20,000 times a day, transporting some 12 cubic meters of air in the process.

We breathe automatically.

Breathing is a prerequisite for life for many living organisms.

The performance unfolds in a semi-public space (storefront with display window), where, over a period of 18 days, the artist blows up a balloon that, eventually, fills the space completely. The artist’s breath transforms the space, occupying its entire volume.

In this long-term performance I try to show how I fill a space with my breath and, in the same space and same atmosphere, simultaneously deprive myself of my breath and make myself unable to breathe.

Photo: Mehtap Baydu, Atem-Nefes, Video(renkli, sesli), 18’07”,  2019

Edition Block

ABOUT MEHTAP BAYDU

Mehtap Baydu was born in Bingöl, Turkey. She studied sculpture at Hacettepe University in Ankara and the Kunsthochschule Kassel under Prof. Dorothee von Windheim. Following completion she became master student under Prof. von Windheim. Mehtap Baydu lives and works in Berlin.

Mehtap Baydu’s performances and installations have become known internationally. Her works explore gender roles and sensitive religious and political themes in multicultural contexts. She incorporates the audience into her performances and challenges it using symbolic objects and situations. She uses sculpture and photography as media in addition to performance and installation, to best express and convey her artistic concerns.   

(Selected Prizes and Stipends)

Art Prize of the Städtische Galerie Nordhorn. 2021, Research stipend, Berlin Senate 2021, Stipend, Kulturakademie Tarabya 2020, Support grant, “Derık” Project, Badischer Kunstverein 2018, Support grant, “Kasseler Kunstpreis – Dr. Wolfgang Zippel-Stiftung“ Kassel, 2011 , UPK Art Prize 2011, Stipend, Otto Braun Foundation, Kassel University, Kassel 2009-2010, Stipend for foreign students, Kassel University, 2009

(Selected Solo- and Group Exhibitions)

Baydu’s works have been displayed e.g. in:, “I Am Nobody. Are You Nobody Too?” Meşher Istanbul, “Durchlässigkeit” Galerie Nordhorn 2022 (solo), “Empowerment” Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg 2022, “Der Wald war noch Nackt” Galerie Nev Ankara 2022, (solo), “MITbeSTIMMEn” Galerie Nord, Berlin 2022, Global Artfestival,Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg 2021, “Studio Bosporus” Festival, Kunstraum Bethanien, Berlin 2021, “A Time to Embrace and to Refrain from Embracing“ Ural Biennale, Yekaterinburg 2021, “State and Nature” Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden 2021 , “Alone Together” STUK, Leuven 2019– 2020, “Words Are Very Unnecessary” Arter, Istanbul 2019–2020 , “Cuma“ Edition Block, Berlin 2018 (solo), “Derık“ Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe 2018 (solo) , “Dialoge” London Art Fair 2018 (Solo) , “Kiss” Bröhan-Museum, Berlin 2017, “Ğ – queere Formen wandern” Schwules Museum Berlin, 2017, “Identity Relations“ kjubh e.V, Cologne 2017 (solo), “Diese Sehnsucht gehört uns!” Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu (CoCA), Torun 2016 , “Mythologien” 3. Mardin Biennale 2015, “Die unbeantwortete Frage“,Iskele 2, SCHWANENGESANG / Swan Song, Berlin 2013 and “Spaziergang” Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel, 2009.