My First Century @ ZAWP #TEH85

Let us introduce you "My First Century" briefly.

As xy generation, we are all born in 20th century and continue our lives in the 21st century. The writing of 20th century's art history is not yet complete.

Getting started from the question asked by James Elkins “Is art history global?” My First Century team; Ayşegül Sönmez & Zeynep Okyay gets close-up views on the art history norms and geographical choices. The linear narrative of history is shaped with arbitrary criterions. Who made the norms and criterias?

With this project we want to question the unquestionable norms of the art history. My first century proposes ways to remap, de-center, and reorient the art history's canonic framework.

The project already kicked off in Mardin, during the 4th edition of Mardin Biennial. And it will take place in different cities of the world. In these cities we organise participatory performances by inviting local people from the artistic and cultural scene, academy, political science, sociology, philosophy or architecture background.

Each time, the project will be realised on site, as a participatory project.

We will make a circle, the performers and audience and each performer will come to the middle of the circle, tell their 20th century’s art history with their own narratives.

This format will help to build visibility to many artists that many of us may not know about, thus, it will grow the pleasure to discover new cultural elements and artistic practices. In each city, My First Century sessions will be realised with the participation of many local actors from the artistic and cultural scene. These actors are asked to tell their own 20th centuries' art history and their reasons.

My first century is a big challenge for everyone in order to get free of the spoken framework and to create new discourses.

We would definitely like to meet you and collaborate with you.

Please write us back: my1stcentury@gmail.com