PERFORMISTANBUL
O.P.Y.U.M.
in collaboration with
The Economy of Appearance: A Vision for PIONEER FUTURE PATHS
In a world increasingly dominated by visual media, the concept of the "economy of appearance" resonates deeply with PIONEER FUTURE PATHS' mission. As a non-profit organization supporting independent artists and performers in the realms of digital media and live performance, we recognize the profound impact of appearance in shaping cultural narratives and identities. Our inaugural edition in 2019 set the stage for this exploration by spotlighting artists who use performance to articulate cultural and ethnic differences. These performances transcend mere visual spectacle, offering profound insights into the complexities of identity and heritage in a globally connected yet culturally fragmented world.
The economy of appearance centers around the value attributed to visual and performative elements in our society. This economy is not just about aesthetics or surface-level visuals; it encompasses the deeper meanings, stories, and cultural significance embedded in how we present and perceive ourselves and our surroundings. At PIONEER FUTURE PATHS, we strive to highlight these intangible assets, emphasizing the rich, underlying narratives that challenge traditional modes of exhibition.
Our mission urges a reevaluation of what we consider valuable heritage. Beyond material possessions, our true inheritance lies in the connections we forge, the knowledge we pass on, and the experiences we share. The economy of appearance, therefore, is not merely about what we see, but about how these visual elements convey and preserve our collective stories and values.
At PIONEER FUTURE PATHS, we are committed to advancing the economy of appearance as a framework for artistic expression and cultural dialogue. By championing the intangible aspects of art and performance, we pave the way for a richer, more inclusive understanding of heritage and identity. Our platform empowers artists to push boundaries, challenge norms, and inspire introspection, fostering a world where the appearance is not just seen but deeply understood and appreciated.
ECONOMY OF APPEARANCE
BOOK LAUNCH
EKIN BERNAY | DEBOUT BOOK RELEASE
The book is about the human experience through the extremes of pain and pleasure. The film has two parts and has been performed for the camera in Istanbul. Part one ‘sit up, open your mouth’ is Ekin placing her late grandmothers tooth between her teeth. While arising questions of impermanence , bodily wisdom and organic vs plastic.
PERFORMATIVE EXHIBITION
Challenging traditional notions of exhibition and offering new possibilities to engage visitors, convey ideas and preserve intangible heritage. By embracing technology, storytelling and participatory approaches, striving to create dynamic and engaging experiences that go beyond the limitations of physical objects, the selected pieces will be exhibited in an immersive and engaging presentation, inviting viewers to reflect on the value of what we cannot see, touch or taste but that shapes our collective identity.
ARTISTIC TALK
Serving as a multifaceted platform that educates, engages, and inspires. It fosters a deeper understanding of art, promotes critical thinking, builds community, and enhances the visibility of the artist and their work.
world premiere
live performance
book launch
Performance Artist, Dance and Movement Psychotherapist. Ekin Bernay has an MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy from Roehampton University and has been working clinically as a DMP. She has experience in adult mental health, autism, primary schools and refugee children. In her live artwork Ekin is working towards merging the DMP findings with a wider audience through performative workshops.
Her work focuses on the healing qualities of performance art. She uses text, sound and choreographic situations to direct the audience. As a dance therapist Bernay works in adult mental health and schools. Ekin is represented by International Performance Art Platform Performistanbul. The artist who works between London and Istanbul, has presented numerous performances in various institutions and organisations including Tate (London), Block Universe (London), OnCurating Project Space (Zurich), Istanbul Biennial and Pera Museum (Istanbul).
EKIN BERNAY
BOOK LAUNCH
NO BODY, 2024 by EKIN BERNAY
The book is about the human experience through the extremes of pain and pleasure. The film has two parts and has been performed for the camera in Istanbul. Part one ‘sit up, open your mouth’ is Ekin placing her late grandmothers tooth between her teeth. While arising questions of impermanence , bodily wisdom and organic vs plastic. The second part Ekin directs the viewer to attend the process by repeating after her the words “I live.” Each time the words are repeated Ekin is shot with a bb gun. Humans shooting humans is one of the most incomprehensible phenomenon of our species. This part looks at physical pain at the verge of life and death as an extension of fear.
world premiere
live performance
video performance
Blackhaine, stage name of Tom Heyes, is a British artist from Preston, Lancashire working on the border between dance and music. His practice finds its origins in the nagging anxiety of Europe in the 2020s. Between fear of civilizational decline, ideological disenchantment, and convulsions linked to a bad trip during a late winter morning, his performances seem to welcome all the violence that crosses the margins of ‘English blackness’ evoked by the writer Stephen Barber. Musically, his influences lie between noise, drill and ambient, punk and hardcore. Both confrontational and intimate, Heyes explores the limits of macho rap, street poetry, experimental dance and what it means to be a working-class artist. Convulsive movements, stage installation inspired by metal liturgy and guttural cries, his work aims to rest the mind through sensory saturation.
BLACKHAINE
world premiere
video performance installation
Dancer, Sound creator, Graphic designer, Choreographer, Dramaturg, etc Artist name nouseskou. He is from the Kyoto underground HIP HOP culture. He runs the dance team nouses, which combines street dance and contemporary art. He creates his own sound sources that incorporate the technique of Musique concrète, a type of contemporary music, and has established a unique dance genre that is positioned as Concrète. Participated in both the finals of the Street Dance World Competition and Contemporary Dance World Competition, performed in Switzerland and France, and collaborated with Shintaro Oue, Tomohiko Tsujimoto, Hiroaki Umeda, Shintaro Hirahara, Ruri Santo, Mirai Moriyama, and others (titles omitted). Has experience in activities.
NOUSES KOU
world premiere
live performance
performative installation
Danylo F. and Bryan C. are a duo of contemporary brazilian and french artists living and working in Paris. They explore and expand upon fundamental aspects of their artistic practice with live and video performance, sculptures and installations work. Their last work Sun - nuS is a search for identity, for human connection in an alienating environment. Without artifacts, the movement of the two bodies which intertwine while repelling each other, gives this performance a universal reading.
Each performer embodies a sedimentary deposit of the past reaching into the dolorous forthcoming. The living sculptures translate a tension between the static nature of our politics. To unlearn so many narratives that only attribute to aimless groups of individuality, rather than a combined force we talk about power, incapacity, violence, resistance and finally also their opposite: freedom. Sun-nuS crafts a narrative that is both futuristic and intimately familiar, challenging our perceptions of earth perspective, decay, and the cyclical nature of existence.
dIb
EXHIBITION SPACE
Four transparent LED screens draws the walls of a performative spacev this presentation kit is a sophisticated, immersive setup designed to display synchronized visual content on multiple screens, creating an engaging experience for viewers who enter the squared space. The design emphasizes modularity, high contrast, and dynamic interaction.
ARTISTIC TALK
NEVER TALK WITH STRANGERS
This installation is a sophisticated setup designed to host artistic talks, featuring a circular arrangement of speakers and electronic devices, with prominent cables and microphone stands. The design emphasizes connectivity, interaction, and a modern aesthetic, creating an immersive environment for both the speakers and the audience.
ZHONA
takeover istanbul
ZHONA LIT UP THE CITY’S HIDDEN CORNERS, EXPLORING THE BODY WITH THE PULSATING BEATS OF TECHNO AND LATINCORE MUSIC SETTING THE STAGE FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT. SENSUAL RHYTHMS SEXY ATMOSPHER, WHERE ATTENDEES MOVEMENTS A TESTAMENT TO LIBERATION AND JOY - A STATEMENT, A CELEBRATION, AND THE BEAUTY OF BEING UNAPOLOGETICALLY ONESELF. There is a sense of community and shared experience, as people are seen interacting closely, reflecting the social and connective nature of after-parties. Capturing the essence of a night filled with music, fashion, and artistic interaction.