heartquake
premiered in MDT Stockholm- 04.05.2024
heartquake is a choreographic tryout on living on shaky ground; both metaphorically and literally. It is inspired by Turkey’s political and geographical realities and focuses on the idea that “The land shapes the habitants’ way of thinking.”
I started this artistic research right after the big earthquake took place in the southeast part of Turkey (06.02.2023) which caused thousands of people’s deaths. It was the time when the “unholy trinity” of uncertainty, insecurity, and unsafety was at its peak. That was like a bad summary of the region; it is not possible to build something in there; a career, a family, a home, a life… There is always something that happens to demolish what has been established. Sometimes it’s an earthquake or sometimes it’s bad political situations…
poster: Ekin Tunçeli
How can you imagine a future for yourself while the big shake is on the way and the shakes constantly change what you’ve dreamed of? In a land where people grow up hearing about ancient cities once they have been all destroyed by earthquakes, how can you build something when you know it’ll eventually be demolished? How can you put trust in an institution which is basically a building made of concrete? When everything keeps falling apart, what is left other than each other’s support and the endless effort of human beings? Maybe to a far extent, this may even explain the so-long-presence of the one political person.
People do not have to have anxieties just because of political situations or maybe all the anxieties are political.
Corinth, the homeland of Sisyphus is one of the most seismically active places in Europe.
Credits
Choreography & Concept: Ekin Tunçeli
Dance: Halil İbrahim Aygün, Gizem Seçkin, Diren Ezgi Yıldızkan
Sound: including tracks from various artists: Ah! Kosmos, Ekin Tunçeli, Cucina Povera & Haron, Dinamarca
Supervision: Jennifer Lacey, Stina Nyberg
Sound Supervision: Barış Bingöl
Costume: Mert Yemenicioğlu
Light Design: M.Ali Dönmez
Duration: 40 min.
Special thanks to MAKOR people & Jennifer Lacey, Zorlu PSM, Büşra Tuna, Ufuk Fakıoğlu, Melih Kıraç, Beste Demir, Martin Siewke; Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası, Zeynep & Irmak Koyuncu, KHAS Film ve Drama, MSGSÜ Modern Dans ASD., Akbank Sanat, Exanimo house, Güneşülkesi Sanat for studio support
photos: Jonas Bilberg