The Future of the Me-nemen- Mory took place in Tuinstraat 87, Amsterdam 20th November to 17th December 2019.
In The Future of the Me-nemen-Mory, presented at Tuinstraat 87, Suat Öğüt’s work invites us to uncover the hidden, silent and forgotten places of Amsterdam. The everyday city-dweller would usually not encounter the four hidden buildings that Öğüt has chosen to work with. Together the buildings evoke a tale of the city’s continuing expansion and development in the last century to today. Limited space and ideological considerations incited the construction of places that are somehow hidden from street life. The Future of the Me-nemen-Mory uncovers these histories and memories, and thus sheds light on the multiple layers of Amsterdam.
By using food as a social metaphor, Öğüt brings together the familiar and the (un)familiar. For those who already know menemen, the crisp white space will be an unusual setting. As for the ones who get the chance to experience the chairs and the architectural setting, the smell, the cooking, the resulting dish will be unusual layers of the overall experience. The two components of the installation, cum menemen production center connect us to the educational centers of Amsterdam. The chairs are memory triggers, just as the taste of menemen can be reminiscent of memories of the past.
The Future of the Me-nemen-Mory brings together different geographical and time zones. As Öğüt compiles metaphorically as well as literally the past, the present and the future in both a domestic and (non)domestic setting, he creates a new authentic space with no previous memory of menemen. He takes hold of an opportune moment and creates fresh experiences and memories.
In the exhibition, Öğüt shows multiple media in his installation echoing the architectural specificities of the buildings through videos, carpets, tables, chairs and food. Menemen will be served during the exhibition.
For this project Öğüt is in collaboration with art historian and curator Lora Sariaslan, writer and courier Hugo de Gier, architect Merve Bedir, historian Tymen Peverelli and architect Baver Bahoz Bozarslan. It is generously supported by friends and family; Sanne Lauriks, Giovanni Giaretta, Douwe Veldhuisen, Helena Julian, John Luck, Suzan Kalle, Ali İbrahim Öcal, Hatice Öğüt, Emine Ekmen, Ton Kalle, Mustafa abi (Leyla Market in Javastraat), Özgür Demirci, Cihad Caner, Marc Farrant, David Bernstein, Kitty Maria, belit sağ and Zarza Su Kalle.
This project is kindly supported by Amsterdam Fonds Voor de Kunst (AFK) and Mondriaan Fonds.
To read full text contributed by Lora Sariaslan here.
To read full text contributed by Tymen Peverelli here.
To read full text contributed by Hugo De Gier here.
To read full text contributed by Merve Bedir here.
Photo credit: Giovanni Giaretta