Preparations for the 3rd Yeditepe Biennial are underway. Hakan İsmail Şiriner's installation titled ‘Ash’ (Kül), which will be exhibited in Nuruosmaniye Mosque Cellar, draws attention as a work that questions the deep meanings of ash in human history.

As part of the 3rd Yeditepe Biennial, ‘Ash’ is a profound installation work meticulously prepared by Hakan İsmail Şiriner. The work aims to ask new questions about the existence and transformation of humanity through ash, a historical and mythological symbol.

The Nuruosmaniye Mosque Cellar, where the work will be exhibited, is a meaningful venue for the ‘Ash’ with its historical atmosphere. During the preparation process, the stones have been carefully placed, insulation works have been completed and the work has been given an aesthetic dimension with neon lights. Thanks to these technical details, Şiriner aims to make the audience feel the connection between silence and rebirth.

The artist deals with the mythological, historical and symbolic meanings of ash in depth. The ashes left behind after the destructive power of fire symbolise not only an end but also a new beginning. From the human-shaped ash pots of the Etruscans to the legend of Simurgh, from the Prophet Job sitting on ashes to the expression ‘I ate ash like bread’ in the Psalms, ash is a symbol of transformation, purification and rebirth in many cultures.

With ‘Ash’, Şiriner aims to convey to the audience these meanings of ash throughout history and to make them think about the following questions: Was the Prophet Job looking for hope when he sat on ashes? Could ash be a sign of rebirth after destruction?

The stone walls and dim atmosphere of the cellar provide a meaningful setting for the ‘Ash’. When the preparation process is completed, this historical site is expected to support the work and provide the audience with a profound experience.

‘Ash’, one of the most remarkable works within the 3rd Yeditepe Biennial, will meet art lovers in Nuruosmaniye Mosque Cellar after the opening of the biennial.