Introduction
Born into a secular, liberal Turkish family and raised in Istanbul, where the East and the West meet, my experience of traditional codes of masculinity has always been skewed. Growing up in Turkey, I had often been told that I needed to “be a man,” which implied a wide spectrum of responsibilities ranging from sporting a beard to having a wife and kids. Becoming a man meant drinking raki, an alcoholic beverage made from anise, and drinking it well. It meant letting the women clear the table, and watching soccer, swearing occasionally. It meant sounding assertive, and not letting my voice rise when I got excited.
I thought perhaps reconstructing masculinity would offer insight: If I could dismantle it, build it, manipulate it, then maybe I could figure out how to be a man. The very act of re- creating the imagery I grew up with would be cathartic, because in time it would demystify masculinity. I would construct the fantasy, thus ensuring that it is, after all, fantasy, and needs not hang over anyone’s head.
Since 2010, I have been working on several series of photographs, all attempting to gain a better understanding of masculinity. I am inspired by contemporary artists such as Nan Goldin and Taner Ceylan, as well as David and Caravaggio.
My engagement with my models as well as the images that come out of my interactions contribute to the dialogue I wish to incite, particularly in the Middle East, about what it means to be a man; about internalized patriarchy and how we can begin to deconstruct it. I wish to inspire people to reconsider themselves.
