Borderline States
“On the Borderline of Psychology and Philosophy: Art”
Prepared and Presented by: Cengiz Arca & Ezgi Emel
The talk series “Borderline States” invites us to re-read the story of the modern individual, torn in two under the siege of the contemporary era, through the intersection of psychiatry and philosophy alongside the visual memory of contemporary art. Moderated by Cengiz Arca and Ezgi Emel, the program observes the profound rift between the measured, controlled body and the perpetually anxious mind from within the modern world. Each episode aims to present the intricate relationship the modern subject builds with desire, fear, and the search for meaning as a stage for discussion.
Spanning a wide spectrum from the artificial pleasures of dopamine to the political boundaries of madness, and from the representational power of cinema to love’s battle with freedom, these meetings go beyond mere theoretical knowledge. We open abstract concepts to aesthetic debate by supporting the borderline states we examine with striking examples from contemporary art. Guided by thinkers such as Thomas Szasz, Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze, and Zygmunt Bauman, we question the prepackaged solutions offered by modernity. Through these conversations, while discovering the social and philosophical roots of our individual experiences, we aim to collectively build those authentic spaces of existence offered by being broken, embracing uncertainty, and daring to feel everything.
* The talks will be held in Turkish. To participate in the talks within the program, you can go to the event page of the talk you want to attend and create your registration using the "Register" button on the page. Registrations for each seminar will be opened 1 week before the event date on the detail page of the relevant event and the "Register" button will be visible. All events are free and participation is limited to a quota of 80 people.
On the Borderline of Pleasure and Pain: Dopamine
Minoa Pera
14 January 2026|18:30
On the Borderline of Normal and Abnormal: Madness
Minoa Pera
11 March 2026|18:30
On the Borderline of Order and Chaos: Art
Minoa Pera
8 April 2026|18:30
On the Borderline of Submission and Freedom: Love
Minoa Pera
6 May 2026|18:30
Between Life and Death: Transience
Minoa Pera
3 June 2026|18:30
Borderline States
“On the Borderline of Psychology and Philosophy: Art”
January 2026 - June 2026