rising

Rising, site-specific installation, monumental sculpture, 2022

While ancient civilizations are submerged under the waters of the dam, the water sustains life in these lands and beyond. Samosata, the capital of the Commagene kingdom; Nevali Çori mound and many modern-day villages were flooded due to the dam. The work titled “Rising” is an ascension ladder to the sky, constructed for the souls of the submerged civilizations, on one of the islets on the dam lake at the foot of Mount Nemrut. When the waters rise, the island in the dam where the work is located will be flooded, and the ladder will continue to rise above the waters. Regarding the relationship between the visible and the invisible, thoughts, feelings, actions, all the voices in that void, in this imaginary civilization, spirits will rise to the sky and the dam will continue to sustain life.

Tall ladder on a small stone islet in the dam lake, site-specific installation Rising
Ladder of Rising standing on a rocky islet with mountains behind
Person climbing the yellow ladder of Rising against a blue sky
Islet with the ladder of Rising in the turquoise dam lake near Mount Nemrut
Wide view of the dam lake and hills around the installation Rising
Ladder of Rising standing in the water after the lake level rose