CANAN

CANAN is a feminist artist whose practice is characterised by the multi-layered building of her poetic cosmos where the personal and political meet through immersive storytelling. In her installation, traditional and digital techniques meet craftwork, utilising the richness of materials and textures as well as the social and historical contexts they represent, to convey the message of self-worth and solidarity, and their importance in restoring faith in democracy.

The artist approaches this idea by focusing on the individual, although the individual is never separated from society. She emphasises the “intrinsic value” of each and every person, and how important it is to recognise it, in oneself and others, in order to hope for a harmonious and peaceful coexistence.

CANAN welcomes us into the four rooms, each representing a specific aspect of establishing one’s self-worth. The first room is dedicated to privacy and personal boundaries, recognising that everyone is entitled to their physical and mental space and to not have that space breached (including by the pressure of societal expectations) unless invited. The room is filled with personal items, mementos indicating the particularities of inner worlds every one of us keeps to themselves. The second room is dedicated to compassion. We enter it as if entering a mystical garden, inviting us to reflect on extending compassion to ourselves as well as coexisting with others, attempting to understand their own inner worlds, trials and tribulations that are often unknown. The third room is dedicated to mercy, and it features a colourful textile work, reminiscent of Christian and Islamic imagery. The fourth and final room is dedicated to value - self-worth, with the affirmative phrase “I value myself” repeating as a mantra, centring on the weight self-worth carries in our daily lives as well as in society.

The project is supported by the SAHA Association and the Hitay Foundation.