Before All Runs Out: *Cosmos of New Values
This year’s theme for Sinopale, “Before All Runs Out: Cosmos of New Values,” invites individuals and communities to rethink their impact on the world and explore new value systems for a sustainable future. The theme goes beyond creating new values out of nothing and aims to reinterpret values that have existed in the collective memory of humanity and nature for millennia. By opening up a discussion on human and natural values that we have either instrumentalized or ignored in today’s world, it prompts a deeper understanding of them.
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This theme forms a strong connection with Félix Guattari’s concept of "The Three Ecologies." Guattari argues that the ecological crisis is not limited to the environment but also includes the individual’s inner ecology and social ecology. In this context, Sinopale’s approach addresses the multilayered structure of ecological thought, aiming to explore the relationships between the environment, the individual, and society. At a time when both natural and human values are reaching a point of exhaustion, it emphasizes the need to address these three ecologies in an integrated manner for a sustainable future. As a reflection of this complex ecosystem, art offers individuals and communities alternative perspectives to discover new ethical and aesthetic value systems.
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Jale Erzen’s concept of “Three Habiti” also provides an important framework for understanding this process. Erzen’s three habiti – individual, social, and environmental – represent the interactions between the individual, society, and nature. Through the transformative power of art, Sinopale offers the opportunity to rebuild and transform these three habiti. Art, with its potential to transform nature-human relationships, social practices, and the inner world of the individual, becomes a tool in constructing a new universe of values.
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In this context, “Before All Runs Out” calls for questioning not only the destruction of nature but also moral and spiritual values and advocates for re-examining the ecological relationships between nature and humanity within a new ethical and aesthetic order. While ecology forces us to rethink the aesthetic and ethical bonds that humans establish with nature and society, art functions as a mediator in this process. The “Cosmos of New Values” can find meaning as a “New Cosmos of Values,” where current values are reshaped, individual and social responsibilities are deeply questioned, and ecological and moral norms undergo a transformation, or as “New Values of Cosmos” which reconstructs the moral and aesthetic values of human existence in harmony with nature’s rhythm, emphasizing a lifestyle aligned with nature.
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Sinopale invites its audience and participants to reflect deeply on these three ecologies and habiti through artistic productions and to discover new values before they all run out. This process provides a space for questioning the tensions of human intervention intertwined with the aesthetic structures of nature and society while offering the potential to guide individuals and communities toward a sustainable future, becoming a shared experience in the city.
Circular Narratives:
Re-discovering ​
Collective Ethos
Curator: Ä°pek M. Sür
As part of the Sinopale, an event that thrives on collective curatorial processes and fosters sustainable dialogues, artistic research, and interactive presentations, Dutch/Turkish curator Ipek M. Sur orchestrates a series of experiences under the theme "Circular Narratives: Re-discovering Collective Ethos." This theme harmonizes diverse approaches, ideas, forms, mediums, and disciplines, coexisting in individual islands of thought. This iteration of the Biennial invites participants to immerse themselves in eco-heritage, envisioning the future with insights from the past, fears of the future, melancholy of the past, local mythologies and fast natural transformations through experiential happenings. Emphasizing collective action and shared responsibility, art and design emerge as powerful catalysts for immediate dialogue and profound reflection.
Each island of thought, encapsulated within the artists' works, will echo the profound interconnectedness of all elements within the Sinopale ecosystem and the vibrant city of Sinop. Breaking free from the confines of the traditional white box format, these presentations and happenings will be woven into the very fabric of Sinop's public spaces, engaging its inhabitants and, in some cases, brought to life by them. Through the medium of interactive installations, evocative storytelling, and experiential projects, visitors will find themselves transported into each island of thought, where works serve as sensory catalysts, channeling transformative power through immersive experiences that captivate and provoke introspection.
By intertwining the rich themes of mythology, cultural heritage, the co-designing of livable cities, the delicate dance between nature and humanity, and the principle of circularity, the exhibition conjures a vibrant tapestry of experiences. These experiences invite a profound reflection on individual practices, urging participants for a dialogue to consider their broader implications within an evolving, interconnected world.
Through the potent synergy of collective triggering and syncing, the Sinop Biennial embarks on a quest to uncover a new ethos steeped in sustainability, shared responsibility, and cultural continuity. Artistic interventions and experiential projects ignite inspiration, urging visitors and the local community to contemplate their roles in ecological stewardship and sustainable living. Interactive installations and collaborative art-making processes draw participants into a unified response to environmental challenges. Educational programs, public dialogues, and storytelling initiatives deepen this collective ethos, fostering shared understanding and commitment to emerging ethical standards and behaviors. By weaving these dynamic elements into the city's very fabric, the Biennial transcends traditional art showcases, cultivating a transformative community experience that harmonizes individual and collective actions with expansive ecological aspirations.
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This conceptual "island of thought" will permeate the city, inviting artists such as Suat Ogut, Isabel Cordeiro, Can Bora, Ozgur Demirci, Betal Ozay, Daragac Collective, Ali Ibrahim Ocal, and Banu Ugural to create their own unique realms within the exhibition. These artworks will break free from traditional gallery confines, seamlessly integrating into the city's fabric. Each artist's practice will propel the ongoing global transformation, illuminating diverse yet equally critical issues. In an era of information overload, society often struggles to envision and practice sustainable futures. Is there space for collective triggering? Can we sync for a collective and new ethos? This Biennial offers a safe platform for rethinking the new ethos we need.
The showcased works will traverse various disciplines and mediums, from fine arts and installations to performances, and storytelling practices. Each piece, commissioned by SINOPALE, will be meticulously crafted for Sinop, positioning the city as the nucleus of this artistic exploration. Through these diverse expressions, the Biennial aspires to foster a collective reimagining of our relationship with the environment, emphasizing sustainability, shared responsibility, and the transformative power of art to inspire meaningful change.
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