Lot 14: HALE TENGER

HALE TENGER B. 1960 JOURNEY TO THE MINORS (TO THE TUNE OF MUHAYYER KURDI) headlights and spouts mounted on corian 33 by 133 by 13cm.; 13 by 52 3/8 by 5 1/8 in. EXECUTED IN 1992, THIS WORK IS UNIQUE.

Istanbul, Galeri Nev, Galeri Nev, 1992

Ali Artun and Haldun Dostoglu, Muzekitap: 1950-2000 Turkiye'de Cagdas Sanat, Istanbul 1999, p. 581, illustrated in colour
Ahu Antmen, Stranger Within, Istanbul 2007, p. 29, illustrated in colour
Levent Calikoglu, Cagdas Sanat Konusmalari 3: 90'li Yillarda Turkiye'de Cagdas Sanat, Istanbul 2008, p. 256, illustrated in colour

Arguably the most successful conceptual artist on the Turkish scene, certainly one of the most creative, Hale Tenger's works are more often than not highly politicised. One of the first artists to address the Kurdish issue in Turkey, Journey to the Minors (to the Tune of Muhayyer Kurdi) is the embodiment of Tenger's understanding of the Kurdish issue. To her the headlights appear like eyes looking forward to a solution, the spouts representing a water source that falls like constant tears. Together these everyday objects are combined to create an image of a car, on the road, journeying towards a solution. The work is symbolic of yearning, and the struggle towards a resolution.

The second part of the title to the Tune of Muhayyir Kurdi is a pun on the word Kurdi, which in this context does not actually refer to the Kurds, but is simply the name of a traditional Turkish tune. It is embedded in the title as a reminder of the Kurdish issue without being an obvious reference, and is typical of Hale Tenger's ability to transform the most inconsequential of things into the consequential.