Someone born in Famagusta, Cyprus. Lives in Istanbul. A photographer/storyteller who has been interested in photography since elementary school years; who loves traveling, producing, telling stories, and listening to them.
Object:
When does an object stop being "a thing" and start carrying "meaning"? In Heidegger's words, when does "a thing perform its thingness"?
Ada:
For me, an object stops being "a thing" and starts carrying meaning the moment it blends into life. As it gets used, carries traces, and builds a relationship with me, it becomes irreplaceable. As Heidegger said; it acquires its thingness through precisely this contact and time.
Object:
Do you believe that items have a memory?
Ada:
Yes, I believe that items have a memory through the traces of life they carry. Situations like getting broken, scratched, having a corner dented, or being lost for a period and then found again make what that item went through visible. These traces turn the object into a silent witness.
Object:
Which is more important to you: an object's function, its form, or its story?
Ada:
Most of the time, the story of an object is more important to me than its form or design. Because I believe that the story makes objects more "unique." What makes the same object special is often how it aged, through whom it passed, and what it accompanied.
Object:
When producing or choosing an object, which emotions guide you?
Ada:
When producing or choosing an object, liking its design, its color, and the feeling it evokes in me is usually enough. In this process, I follow a more intuitive path. Sometimes I understand the reason afterwards, but what it makes me feel in the first moment determines my decision.
…I see them as a time capsule because they were taken in years when photography was much more valuable…
Object:
Is there any object you collect as a collection item?
Ada:
Yes, I collect photos over 100 years old from all over the world. I see them as a time capsule because they were taken in years when photography was much more valuable. I like examining old studio props, the design of photo cards, the signature/stamp details on them, and tracking the change of these details over the years.
