Barış Doğrusöz

Ensemble

Barış Doğrusöz’ multidisciplinary practice explores the entangled narratives of history, memory and militarised space. Working across video, sculpture and installation, Doğrusöz uses archival material, archaeological documentation and architectural forms to critique how knowledge and territory are spatially and materially encoded through military infrastruc ture and visual language. His practice often engages in what he terms “prequels and premonitions for a near future fiction”, examining how geopolitical and historical narratives are constructed.

The work INTERSTICES (a dizzying array of combinations) is composed of abstracted sculptures based on the form of pillboxes, small apertures for weapons commonly found across Lebanon, Palestine and other conflict zones near sensitive targets like official buildings or interstitial sites like checkpoints. These structures are specifically designed to be invisible or impenetrable in their form while also constructing the boundaries or borders of access. Doğrusöz’ serial presentation strips them of their original function, transforming them into diagrammatic forms. Doğrusöz builds a lexicon of resistance, mapping how oppressive structures may be reinterpreted as artifacts of memory and critique. INTERSTICES underscores his commitment to redefining spatial narratives and contesting hegemonic frameworks of historical knowledge.

we refuse_d is produced by Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, on the occasion of their 15th anniversary, and presented in partnership with M HKA.
Curated by Nadia Radwan and Vasıf Kortun.

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About M HKA / Mission Statement

The M HKA is a museum for contemporary art, film and visual culture in its widest sense. It is an open place of encounter for art, artists and the public. The M HKA aspires to play a leading role in Flanders and to extend its international profile by building upon Antwerp's avant-garde tradition. The M HKA bridges the relationship between artistic questions and wider societal issues, between the international and the regional, artists and public, tradition and innovation, reflection and presentation. Central here is the museum's collection with its ongoing acquisitions, as well as related areas of management and research.

About M HKA Ensembles

The M HKA Ensembles represent our first steps towards initiating the public to today's art-related digital landscape. With the help of these new media, our aim is to offer our artworks a better and fuller array of support for their presentation and public understanding.