Right after "Angelus Altera", with Ra, MK and Ali Emir. SALT Beyoğlu, Istanbul. As part of "90s on stage" exhibition, curated by Amira Arzık. 2022. Photo by Berkay Ali Bilge
Leman Sevda Darıcıoğlu (Berlin & Istanbul) is a multidisciplinary artist specialising in long-durational live performances, complemented by video, installation/sculpture, and public intervention works. With a focus on chronopolitics and necropolitics, Leman’s work centres on the vulnerability and resilience of marginalised bodies. They are interested in queer re-appropriation methodologies of the past and the present from a Southwest Asian perspective within a deal with violence and privilege dynamics referring to the past and current hegemonies, totalitarian regimes and dictatorships in some parts of the world and rising fascism and conservatism all over.
Viewing the body as a repository of fears, traumas, and emotions, Leman pushes the boundaries of the physical and emotional body in their performances. Through performances that blur the line between vulnerability and resilience, they interrogate how cis-heteropatriarchy and colonial necro-capitalism render certain bodies vulnerable and explore the to-be-emerged potential and strength of the body. Leman’s corporeal methodologies, ranging from body intervention methods, long-durational performance practice, re-interpretation of tableau vivant technique, rituals and impossible movement scores, adapt to the demands of each work.
Leman’s work has been showcased internationally at prestigious venues including Yapı Kredi Cultural Center – YKY, Istanbul; NULL U+2205, Lisbon, Spazju Kreattiv, Valetta; Bärenzwinger, Berlin; Kommunales Kino, Freiburg; Koli Art Space, Istanbul; Bärenzwinger, Berlin; Institute of Contemporary Arts – ICA, London, SALT Beyoğlu, Istanbul; Prospect Art, Los Angeles, Goethe Institute, Rome, Zamek Culture Center, Poznan, STAMP Festival – altonale, Hamburg; Ornemanta24, Pforzheim; bi’bak, Berlin, Schwules Museum, Berlin; Kunsthalle St Annen, Lübeck; Galerie Wedding, Berlin; DEPO, Istanbul; University of Osnabrueck, Lingen; Zentrum fur Kunst und Urbanistik, Berlin, Venice International Performance Art Week, Venice; Museum without walls, British Council Turkey, Kunstraum, London; Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe; 18. Asia Biennale Bangladesh, Dhaka; Warehouse9, Copenhagen and Jeonbuk Museum of Arts, Jeonju among others. Some of the residency programs that they participated in are “CAMP – Art educators in residence” as part of documentafifteen; “Istanbul-Berlin exchange” held by nGbK, ZK/U and DEPO Istanbul; “Artists in residence” at Warehouse9; “Artist residency” at Forum Dança.
They are currently pursuing a master’s degree in the “Live art forms” program at AdBK Nuremberg under the mentorship of Johannes Paul Rather and Tamara Antonijevic [2022-2024]. Additionally, Leman has shared their expertise as a guest lecturer at UdK Berlin’s “Art in Context” master program and has provided mentorships for the Performance Art students at Bilgi University, Istanbul since 2020.
Since 2016, Leman has held and is still holding several body, movement, performance and long-durational performance workshops in Turkey and Europe. They see the workshop processes as collective sharing and holding space for each other and is interested in building safer spaces where especially queer, BIPOCs, and people from marginalised communities can connect with their bodies and take action to turn their vulnerabilities into their strengths through performance art.
Leman was a member of the Istanbul Queer Art Collective between 2014 – 2017 and performed in the following art events and venues as part of the collective; SALT Beyoğlu; Istanbul; Zurcher Theater Spektakel, Zurich; II. Sound Acts Festival, Athens, Les Belles de Nuit Festival, Photobastei, Zurich; Pornceptual, Prince Charles, Berlin.
Between 2012 and 2019, Leman was part of the advisory team that they built as five FLINTAs for Turkey’s first queer theory series titled “Queer Düş’ün” [Queer Fantasy /Thought] and was the translator of several queer books in the selection, in Sel Publishing House. They also edited and compiled a queer theory book called “Queer Temaşa” [Queer Contemplation /Spectacle], which was published as part of the series, in Sel Publishing House (2016).
For collaborations and other things please send an email.
with love and roses,
leman