Esra Ersen: A Possible History

The exhibition Esra Ersen: A Possible History in the historical courtyard of the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur is showing nine works by Ersen from 1998 to 2023, including the large trilogy A Possible History, in which Ersen explores the question of how identity—both personal and shared national identity—is formed. In the first two parts, she searches of traces of cultural connections. The works concentrate on the narrative patterns that accompany the patriotic purpose of nation-building in Turkey. She reveals contradictions that result from non-linear narratives in favor of political interests.

In her third video, A Possible History III, 23 / 23 Blaupause, Ersen examines the century that extends between the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923 and the present. Ersen is particularly interested in identity politics and the shaping of the Republic in Turkey. The artist thus addresses historical narratives and political power structures as well as deeply rooted stereotypes in everyday life. The work was created as a co-production with the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur.

Curator: Dr. Marianne Wagner

About
Esra Ersen’s photographs, videos and installations explore the relationship between individuals and society, focusing on history in general, historical perspectives and the deep differences between oral tradition and collective memory. By dealing with everyday culture, educational structures and cultural symbols in changing times, Ersen’s works reveal the inherent contradictions in social reality. In addition, they repeatedly approach identity and how it develops in a given society. To achieve her goals, the artist favors joyful and subversive encounters with groups such as youth gangs, school classes, refugees and migrants. Esra finds her starting point in Turkey, the country where she was born and raised. However, her approach and her works demonstrate that the structures of people can also be transferred to other countries and systems and thus encourage people to reflect on their own experiences.

In 2023, a jury of experts awarded Ersen the Konrad-von-Soest Prize of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe. Every five years, the association Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe sponsors the Konrad von Soest Prize which is endowed with 35,000 euros and awarded to an artist for his or her outstanding achievements in visual arts. Laureates of the prize since 1952 include Josef Albers, Otto Piene, Hilla and Bernd Becher, Rosemarie Trockel, Johanna Reich, Andreas Siekmann and Tatjana Doll.

Bio
Esra Ersen (born 1970 in Ankara, Turkey) lives and works in Berlin.

Her work has been shown in numerous national and international solo and group exhibitions, including  14th Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul (2015); 27th São Paulo Biennial (2006); 4th Liverpool Biennial (2006); 8th Istanbul Biennial (2003); 4th Kwangju Biennial (2002); Manifesta 4, The Europan Biennial of Contemporary Art, Frankfurt (2002); 4th Istanbul Biennial (1995). She has been awarded the prize of Deutschen Akademie Rom Villa Massimo Rome in 2019/2020.