Mustafa Cevahir Akbaş
Born in 1985 in Istanbul, M. Cevahir Akbaş has been engaged in the discipline of photography since 2010. He began his academic studies in the Department of Photography at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in 2013 and continued without interruption, completing his master’s degree in the same department in 2023. As an artist and independent curator, he realizes personal projects and provides consultancy to various institutions.
In his work, he aims to bring to light the situations that hold significance in his personal life by utilizing contemporary modes of expression—pushing technological boundaries and drawing from other disciplines. At the same time, he seeks to keep the principle of causality ever-present. Since 2015, he has undertaken numerous projects in the fields of photography and visual arts, collaborating with artists from various disciplines in a wide range of joint projects.
A Timeframe: Waiting
This exhibition, in which artists interpret the timeframes they experience from their subjective perspectives, aims to bring a profound insight into the reality of the experienced moment.
In recent years, the successive disasters and their effects in our country and across the world have diversified the concept of time as experienced among individuals. In this context, while the notion of a timeframe may represent a short interval, from a broader perspective, it also indicates that we are going through a critical period.
The concept of time is widely debated in various fields, both as an objective reality and as a completely subjective phenomenon. The issue of timeframes, in particular, concerns how time is measured and how perceptions of time may vary among different individuals or societies. The attempt to measure time from different perspectives stems from its ability to be perceived differently based on people’s lived experiences.
The notion of waiting constitutes an experience that can be perceived in diverse ways by individuals. This timeframe varies depending on expectations and context, not only altering the perception of time but also offering an opportunity to reflect on one’s relationship with time and existence when in anticipation of an event. At times shaped by free will and at other times by environmental factors, individuals construct the meaning of waiting through their beliefs and values.
Henri Bergson argues that time is a subjective experience, fluctuating according to personal experiences. Therefore, he asserts that time cannot be objectively measured.
Within the broader discourse on the variable perception of time, the notion of waiting introduces the reality of subjective experiences, such as the slowing down or acceleration of time. In contemporary society, individuals' perception of micro-timeframes—shaped by their struggles, anxieties, or excitements—creates an open-ended interpretative space with infinite possibilities.
This exhibition, in which artists interpret the timeframes they experience from their subjective perspectives, aims to bring a profound insight into the reality of the experienced moment.