Yeşim Uzunöz
Lives and works in Istanbul
That Was My Story
2024
8 handmade books in different colors, made from waste fabric, 11cm x 15.5cm
Using the concept of production as a leitmotif in her works, Yeşim Uzunöz created a piece for Sinopale 9 that collects women's stories on a city scale. The artist, originally from Sinop, combines participatory art practices with ecological relationships based on her roots.
Her first book, reflecting the story of herself through the lens of the sand lily, is part of a total of eight books. In the other seven books, Uzunöz generates new stories based on the relationships of seven different women living in Sinop with this endangered endemic plant, starting from the first book's sand lily.
These Sinop women illustrated flower forms based on their personal experiences, which were included in their books. With That Was My Story, the artist anthropomorphizes the sand lily, facilitating communication with humans and trying to evoke a sense of emotional connection.
*This work was produced with the support of SAHA and the Austrian Cultural Forum as part of Sinopale 9.