In 2014-2015, Mehtap Baydu photographed important men in her life, including friends, acquaintances, fellow artists, old schoolmates or the owner of a kiosk where she often shops. The photographed men could pose at will, but had to give their shirts to Baydu after the photoshoot.
During her performance, Baydu cut these shirts into long strips, rolled them into balls of fabric and knitted a cocoon around herself. The work, of which video documentation and photography is presented in Alone Together, was commissioned for documenta-Halle Kassel 2015 and performed in complete solitude (no audience present). Cocoon beautifully speaks to ideas of solitude and togetherness, acknowledging that a precondition for a fruitful experience of solitude, is the experience of the warmth of others.

Courtesy the artist
2015 - video performance/installation, 17’26”

Image credit: Mehtap Baydu – Cocoon © Mehtap Baydu

Mehtap Baydu
°1972, Bingöl, Turkey

Mehtap Baydu is a Turkish artist based in Berlin. In her practice, she often focuses on gender roles, and sensitive religious and political issues in multicultural contexts. Her work takes the form of sculpture and photography, performance and installations. Her work has been shown internationally both in group as well as solo exhibitions in a.o. Arter Istanbul (2019), Edition Block, Berlin (2018), Badische Kunstverein (2018), Bröhan Museum, Berlin (2017), The Center of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu in Torun (2016), Municipal Gallery Nordhorn, the Künstlerhaus, Stuttgart (2014) and Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel (2009). Baydu studied sculpture at the Hacettepe University and at the Kassel University (Kunsthochshule Kassel) with Prof. Dorothee von Windheim and was elected as “Master Student” of Prof. Dorothee von Windheim. Baydu lives and works in Berlin.