Ahmet Polat, 2007
Bosporus, Istanbul, 2007
Created by Ahmet Polat in 2007. The artwork is part of the series Kemal's Dream, which was on display at Foam in 2010.
Balancing on two ropes above the Bosporus Strait, two boys embody the playful and carefree spirit of the youngest Turkish generation. The photographer’s angle not only emphasises how high up the boys are, but their bodies cut a sharp silhouette against the bright sky. The scale of the ship and the city in the distance and how the image is framed, leaving unclear what the ropes are attached to, enhance the perception of height.
As the son of a Dutch mother and Turkish father, in his series Kemal’s Dream Ahmet Polat reflects on his personal history and that of many others of his Turkish peers. Theirs is a generation that has grown up with their parents’ traditional norms and values, but is increasingly exposed to the western individualistic lifestyle. His series forms an intimate portrait of Turkish youngsters in the prime of their lives, seeking to find their way between these conflicting lifestyles.
© Ahmet Polat, courtesy of the Foam Collection
