Works as a "Senior Account Executive" at an advertising agency in Istanbul. Outside the agency, she describes herself as a part-time social butterfly and part-time homebody. She mostly prefers sitting and chatting for hours with her friends at her favorite cafe, or rewatching the TV series Modern Family over and over with her cat at home.
Object:
Do objects belong to us, or do we end up belonging to them?
İrem:
I think the sense of belonging between us and objects is mutual; like a relationship... Sometimes we shape ourselves according to an object and define ourselves through it. Thus, we feel a sense of belonging to it. But at the same time, we are the ones who take that object out of being a display piece and give it new meaning in an environment where we place or wear it.
Object:
Which is more important to you: an object's function, its form, or its story?
İrem:
I have always been someone with high aesthetic concern. Therefore, an object catches my interest first through its form. For me, its function and story are merely supporting factors.
...And this story takes that object out of the state of being "just a thing" and creates a bond between you and the object...
Object:
Is naming an object an action that transforms it? - Do you have any object you've named? If so, what is its name?
İrem:
Definitely yes. The moment you name an object, you start attributing a character and a story to it. And this story takes that object out of the state of being "just a thing" and creates a bond between you and the object. I call my yellow Onitsuka Tiger sneakers "Kill Bill." And every time I wear these shoes, I connect even more tightly to the themes of ambition, effort, and affection in the movie.
Object:
In a universe with an unlimited budget, which object would you most like to own and why?
İrem:
I would definitely want to go on with my life with an unlimited number of shoes. Because I think shoes are the piece that best reflects a person's character. When you look at a person's choice of shoes, you can more or less guess what kind of person they are. That is why I believe I express myself best through shoes.
Object:
Is there any object you collect as a collection item?
İrem:
As can be understood from the previous question, shoes... I have about 45–50 pairs of shoes. Every single pair of shoes I buy must be in a different style and color from the ones in my room so that when I put them next to the others, I can feel like I'm adding a piece to my collection.
