Baran Caginli's exhibition BLACKOUT at MAA-tila 27.8.–13.9.2020
Baran Caginli: BLACKOUT
27.08 – 13.09.2020
MAA-tila, Pääskylänrinne 10, 00500 Helsinki
Opening hours: Wed–Fri 2–6pm, Sat–Sun 1–5pm
Please note, there will be no opening event for this exhibition as a safety measure.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘off the map’ as a description of something ‘out of existence… an insignificant position; of no account; obsolete’. This plays on the usual and common-sense understanding of maps: that they show what exists and that they do so accurately. Maps are generally perceived to be an accurate mirror or graphic representation of some aspect of the real world; cartography is defined as a factual science. But as a wealth of research within the ‘new geography’ has argued at length, the map is an intensely political object (Mark Neocleous, 2003, European Journal of Social Theory ).
Nowadays, the maps are easy to reach via online mapping services. Because they are so easy to access, cartographic censorship becomes a priority for the states. On states’ request, these online platforms ‘blackout’ specific, strategic places such as military bases, power plants, specific geographical formations. Even refugee camps, languages, cultures are blackout as a construction of colonial space, and exercise of imperial violence. As a form of knowledge, maps have therefore been brought under the veil of secrecy which shrouds the modern state (Neocleous, 2003).
’Blackout’ dwells on cartographic censorship with pixelated, blurred and transformed images of the places and people which are created by states and nonexistent for us.
Baran Caginli (b.1990, Istanbul) is a Helsinki based artist, working with different disciplines. The framework of his practice relates to issues such as systematic repression, extermination, disappearance, amnesia, ethnic discrimination, state power, forced migrations, collective memory and the state’s contradictions. Most people and objects he has included in his works are in the position of witness of an incident. Although the witnesses belong to local problems and realities, they also refer to problems and witnesses in other geopolitical contexts.
The exhibition has been supported by Taike Arts promotion centre Finland
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Covid-19:
The health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff is a priority for us. We will pay special attention to hygiene in the gallery space, as well as restrict the number of visitors if needed. If you are feeling ill, please postpone your visit.
