Je m'appelle Apel, Galeri Apel in the French Cultural Centre, Istanbul, Turkey

What's in a name? / İsimin ne önemi var?

This work dwells on the spiritual and material importance for man of
the tree (nature in general) by carving a physical aide from it, as
well as pointing to its beauty and the different guises which the
materials of the tree pass through as a road to spiritual health.  It
also reminds us of the different time spans of its different
materials. The change of material from one form to another  means a
change of task at a different time in their lifespan and can be seen
as a parallel to the changes in the human body. Branches are walking
aids. Catkins are food for the bees and food for our soul and later
will become earth, the tree is a willow, but what's in a name?

The work is made up of three parts: One is a soundless, continuously
looped video film projected on the wall, of the willow tree when it is
flowering with catkins and swaying in the wind as if breathing. Each
year it is the earliest tree that flowers and is an early announcer of
spring, the yellow of the flowers remind one of the sun and lifts our
spirits. Bees also have their first chance in the season of collecting
pollen from this tree when there is no other pollen around yet and
their queen will start to produce brood, a clear sign that nature is
awakening. The second part are three Giant "walking/leaning sticks"
partly carved out from branches of this very tree, just after the saps
of the tree have risen. They are another aspect of the tree. These
sticks are needed to man in order to find his way. A symbol for how we
need nature to guide us and lean on when journeying through life.
Their big seize signifies the importance of this aide. The sticks are
leaning to the wall in front of the projection. The third part of the
installation are dried catkins strewn onto the floor at the bottom of
the film and under the "walking/leaning sticks", these resemble earth
and dust and symbolize the cycle of life. Like this also pointing to
the different life spans of the several parts of the tree.