Silent Systems (2011)

Vinyl, HD camera, wall bracket, 46” HD monitor floor section: 900 x 400 cm, wall section: 400 x 130 cm

Silent Systems (2011) was intended as a sculptural work that reflects on another video installation, Silent Glide (2008-09), that alludes to the themes of movement, liminality and displacement. This large format perspective drawing made from vinyl is based on a sea vessel and symbolises Çavuşoğlu’s interpretation of Noah (Noah’s Ark), which is also the name of the cement fac- tory in Hereke (Turkey) used as one of the counterpointing locations in his video installation. Furthermore, the representation of the boat is aligned with the conceptual framework of the film, which is loosely based on the moral dilemmas conveyed within Tolstoy’s literally masterpiece A Confession (1882). In particular, Çavuşoğlu references a dream sequence where Tolstoy sees himself lost in fog, rowing against the current amongst other disorientated souls. Biblically, Noah’s Ark represents the vessel of safety in which one pair of all species avoid the ill fate of the great flood, however, in Çavuşoğlu’s interpretation the image remains static, devoid of movement. The only movement that occurs is that of the audience, captured on CCTV as they navigate across this cynical floor drawing.
Alterity, Sara Raza, 2011