Phyllis and I took off in different directions today. I started with the Istanbul Modern art museum, which is off the beaten tourist trail and a bit hard to find but very worth it. An exhibit up now is called, in English, Plurivocality; its about the intersection of sound and visual arts. There were several very cool videos, including one of a young man lying on a floor with several phonograph records and covers spread around. He is listening to "You'll never walk alone " (when you walk through a storm ...); meanwhile small birds keep poking through his shirt and peeping. A more powerful one was a woman slowly unpinning and unwrapping about twelve layers of different colors and styles of head scarves, intoning, with each unwrapping, the name of a woman friend or relative.
There were in fact many pieces of art focusing on women, their bodies, self images and identities.
Then I rode the funicular up to Taksin Square, and walked down the main drag (which is just for pedestrians and the occasional trolley). Had some fabulous lemon mint tea while reading an English language Turkish newspaper. On a side street I found some great little shops, with none of the high pressure tactics I've gotten used to, and a guy selling grilled mussels on a stick. To die for. For one lira (about 40 cents). Met up with P. and a Turkish friend of a friend who happens to be a tour guide and, interestingly, a supporter of Erdogun. Got a whole new perspective on Turkish politics. Okay I'll try to pull some pictures up.
Taksin Square
I
On the stroll down Istiklal Cad
Glad the photos came through! I'm just able to comment as another year or two and my eyes won't let me read the ridiculous numbers you have to squint at and copy in order to prove I'm not a robot!
ReplyDelete