Özgül Kahraman

Notes

2020, Various techniques, transparent Pleksi, transparent ses stoperi

Variable Dimensions

Fast-paced life is incompatible with the physiology of the human body. Despite this, speed seems to evolve into being a natural part of life. Taking quick and brief notes is one of the habits of a fast-paced life. In her work, which is based on the Braille alphabet -a written language system composed of the 64 variations of 6 dots and used by visually impaired people- Özgül Kahraman writes short notes on plexiglass with the Braille and hangs them in visible places and therefore gives them the function of sticky notes. As they were produced throughout the Gate 27 residency, these notes also act as the documentation of the artist’s process. 

The Braille alphabet is a writing system that needs more space than the Latin alphabet. Therefore, Braille writing written with transparent sticky dots placed on plexiglass must fit into four lines. While creating this piece, notes in Braille writing containing important appointments were presented to the viewers in an incomprehensible way with the help of transparent material with the aim to give the viewer a hard time in perceiving the work at first glance. The viewer is thus invited to question the difficulties visually impaired people face in their lives. The effort to read and understand texts written with the Braille alphabet would strengthen the contact of people with the visually impaired individuals. On the other hand, inspired by the experience visually impaired individuals have in perceiving the environment, this work aims to make society at large question where they stand in relation to the age of speed.