Artist Oriana Eliçabe presents the #GeziEffect Project

25/10/2016

Artist Oriana Eliçabe presented the #GeziEffect Project in the UAB. In the seminar, the artist shared the story of her work with the participants and told how it was inspired by the peaceful and creative conduct of the demonstrators at Gezi. There was also a screening of a documentary by Eliçabe that revolves around the events that took place at Gezi Park and the personal stories of the people in the #GeziEffect pictures. Finally, Eliçabe gave a tour of her photo exhibition, now on show in the Plaça del Coneixement until 4 November.

The mobilization at Gezi Park in Istanbul started with the aim of preventing the construction of a shopping mall in the park area. The violent eviction by the security forces generated a series of pictures of anonymous people and memes that went viral on social networks. Eliçabe chased after the stories behind the pictures and then recreated those stories in different locations. The #GeziEffect Project was born from the idea that it is important to highlight not only the peaceful spirit of the demonstrators but also the creative and colourful protests that spread widely through social networks.

The demonstration at Gezi led people of completely different backgrounds and beliefs to meet and engage in a dialogue which allowed citizens to take the floor. Social transformation in Istanbul would not have been possible without the Gezi cultural transformation. Some pictures such as “Talcid Man”, “Woman in Red” or “Standing Man” made a huge difference for the Turkish population and now they are part of the collective imagination.In the same vein, the artistic project by Eliçabe carries a very powerful and political message because, according to the artist, photography needs to have a political background to raise questions and awake people’s consciences.