Still Images: Photographes: Alihan Aksungur

Caution / Istanbul, Turkey 2007
PAL Video, color/ sound, 08:15 min.
Camera: Mert Daglaroglu
Music: Deeper than space
Photograph Alihan Aksungur

Site-specific project performance on the occasion of the exhibition Modern Mahrem (2007), Santralistanbul Museum of Contemporary Arts
Parasite Architecture is rooted in the idea of the informal, meaning everything which is - either intentionally or nor – temporary, unbuilt, weak, imperfect, lacking or formless (“l´informe” as firstly proposed by Georges Bataille). The concept of the informal was developed by various artists, theorists, and architects since the 1960s. The analysis is carried out in the context of questioning aspects of social communication (Gordon Matta-Clark), of the feminist deconstruction of space (Rita Mc Keough), of ideas of nomadism and psychogeography as made popular by Deleuze + Guttary and the Situationists. and the technological, being influenced by virtual reality’s increasing popularity.

Focussing the aspect of the transient within the idea of the informal, Parasite Architecture relates it to questions of migration and cultural diversity. Beyond the literal sense of “weak” structures, it combines various architectural approaches. As part of his solo exhibition in the Gallery of Contemporary Art Bunkier Sztuki, Kraków/Poland in 2006, Shahram Entekhabi created an informal extension of the Bunkier Museum which feeds off the existing space and also offers another perspective on the notion of mass migration and the perceived existence of migrants. For the project freshAZAN 2007/2008, Shahram Entekhabi and Ali Zaidi/motiroti will add elements of a “foreign” architecture constructed out of scaffolding and caution tape and resembling a minaret to existing buildings in the UK, hosting a live art event.

With riendly support: of the Bigli university, Istanbuland & Santralistanbul Museum of Contemporary Arts

Speciaal thanks to:Erdem Dilbaz, Yesim Çokan, Miray Keser, Deniz Inceoglu, and Arzu Yayintas