Archive of Feelings: Istanbul

Masks blind the sight of the performers and restrict the flow of breath. In the lack of sight, they need to fully feel the wholeness of their bodies to be able to move, even stand. This brings constant tension to their bodies and also constant negotiation with time and space.

System of proprioception, the crucial part of the nervous system, makes it physically possible to perform as blindfolded. Neuroscientist Oliver Sack explains it as 'a sense of ownership or possession of one's body; indicating its etymological relation to ''property'', ''proper''. Socio-political traumas can cause disembodiment, a pause in the recyclability of the feelings; in other words; you may lose the sense of ownership of your feelings and your body. In this context, Archive of Feelings: Istanbul is a provocative performance by a group of artists to claim their rights on the ownership of their feelings, bodies and political imaginaries.

In this performance I was responsible for training the dancers on their own body perception and being in the field as the outer eye.

Through director’s eyes:

‘At this point, the awareness and breathing studies that Büşra Tuna had done for us became very important. We had a really good process about being a team, building a safe space. I'm a choreographer, after all, the choreographer and dancer positions are somewhat historically laden. Although I am aware of this… I care about healing the artistic troubles brought about by the process in our joint production area. Busra took a lot of space in this regard. Therefore, we became like a tribe living together.’