STALKER.

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This work is adapted from American artist and architect Vito Acconci’s Following Piece. Between October 3 and 25, 1969, Acconci followed randomly selected people in public space every day, continuing until they entered a private space such as a home, cinema, or theater. This became a daily activity performed throughout the streets of New York. The duration of each pursuit ranged from a few minutes to several hours. By adapting his own movements to those of another person, Acconci created a new language between bodies. He described this process as attaching himself to another person and surrendering control entirely to them.

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Inspired by this approach, I began following people through the streets of Ulus in Ankara in order to become part of the public life that still exists in the city center and to explore the everyday practices of its inhabitants. I randomly selected people, usually in crowded and significant public spaces, and followed them, sharing their routes and spatial experiences.

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Over the course of six days, I followed 17 people for a total of 203 minutes, surrendering my own spatial and bodily experience to the movements of others. Through their everyday practices, I experienced and perceived the urban center of Ulus from a different perspective.

It became a process in which I abandoned my own journey, route, bodily direction, and activity, allowing myself to become an entirely passive observer.