Artist Statement
Head of a Nation
I am a multidisciplinary artist who enjoys creating with various materials and new technologies. Exploring different techniques pushes me forward, and I strive to share my ideas through forms that are functional and interactive. My series “Head of a Nation” employs the use of hats to share a key piece of my identity and beliefs. Engaging with my series is intended as a gateway to understanding a different culture and discovering the parallels that exist between democracies. It consists of re-imaginings of hats that are historically and culturally significant to the country of Turkey, designed for viewers to try on themselves. Seen in the mirror is a portrait of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk – leader of the revolution that overthrew the Ottoman Empire, founder of the Republic of Turkey, and champion of Westernization and secularism. As a first-generation American born to Turkish parents, my connection to both countries has taught me the importance of maintaining a secular society and how easily it’s taken for granted.
