They say that to see the truth about oneself, one must examine the ways in which we are perceived by others. This is exactly what Erdem Taşdelen has done to achieve the third instalment of his famed series The Characters with The Characters: Act lll.
Erdem Taşdelen is a Turkish-Canadian artist, currently living and creating in Toronto. His artwork spans a diverse array of artistic mediums, including sculpture, visual art installation, as well as sound and video art. Taşdelen is known for being a research-heavy artist. His work has been praised for its ability to delve into important historical, cultural, and socio-political issues. Taşdelen analyzes the complexity of character through his subtle yet powerful imagery and a detailed artistic eye, shedding light upon the darker aspects of society that are often left hidden. His work often focuses on developing narratives and storylines that take the audience on a journey, providing them with a more profound glimpse into how his mind works.
Taşdelen’s work has been showcased at numerous international exhibitions, captivating the attention of audiences around the world. His work has also been featured and reviewed in many well-known publications such as Artforum and The Financial Times. On top of this, Taşdelen has received a number of coveted and respected awards in the art community, including the Joseph S. Stauffer Prize for Visual Arts and the Charles Pachter Prize for New and Emerging Artists (now the William and Meredith Saunderson Prizes for Emerging Artists). He was also long-listed for the Sobey Art Award.
Erdem Taşdelen’s The Characters is a three part voice-installation series that analyzes the dark, inherently negative, and often hidden personality traits within us all. Each act, which is approximately 60 minutes in length, features 10 fictional stock characters representing a common archetype, such as “The Superstitious One” and “The Coward.” They are portrayed through monologues performed by voice actors. With each character representing one archetype, the audience is able to hear their thoughts, actions, and motivations, allowing for a truly immersive experience into each of these personalities.
Each of the character’s defining traits are borrowed from famed ancient Greek author and philosopher Theophrastus, the successor of Aristotle. In The Characters, Taşdelen uses historical Greek storytelling, including aspects as to how each character would be written in Greek and mythological context. Mythological storytelling is often known for its focus on the narrative of a story, specifically the negative aspects, as a way to move the plot forward.
The Characters: Act lll, which takes centre stage at the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) this month, adds 10 new characters to the series. Each titled after the trait they represent, these characters include “The Grouch,” “The Repulsive One,” “The Arrogant One,” and “The Penny Pincher.” A combination of banners, lights, and speakers represent each character in the exhibition. When a character’s monologue is played, a spotlight shines upon their banner, giving the impression that the character is speaking directly to the audience.
“You start to hear these characters as people in your lives and yourself,” says Suzanne Carte, senior curator at the Art Gallery of Burlington. “When you’re listening to the monologues, you’re forced to think ‘Is that me they’re talking about? Do I know someone that could have this trait?’” Carte emphasizes just how different this exhibition will be from previous showings. The Characters: Act lll functions as a performing arts piece and the gallery becomes a stage for the characters to play on. “The active storytelling was specifically appealing to me. I love a story — after all, that’s how we digest the world: through stories,” says Carte.
Despite the scripts being written before the COVID-19 pandemic, the audience is able to recognize how isolation and fear affect each of the characters through their monologues. As Carte points out, “After all, if we’ve learnt nothing during the past two years, we’ve certainly learnt just how resilient and accepting of change we are.”
Carte states that The Characters: Act lll will allow the audience to see that contemporary art can take on a variety of different forms. “It’s an entirely immersive experience,” she says, emphasizing that this exhibition is a performance that can appeal to everyone. “Like a good astrologer, after seeing this show you are picking up pieces from it of what you want to see and hear, and of what you want from the world.”
With each character acting as though they are a vessel, Taşdelen encourages his audience to look deeper within themselves. He aims to allow each audience member to realize that these negative traits inhabit us all, whilst also giving us the tools to fix them. “It’s a form of escapism,” says Carte. “The audience is able to leave their own life, and stand in the shoes of an entirely different person.”
Erdem Taşdelen’s The Characters: Act lll exhibition begins January 21 and runs until April 2, 2022. Viewing of the exhibition is free and open to the public. Availability is based upon COVID-19 restrictions enforced by the Government of Canada. The Art Gallery of Burlington is currently closed until January 26, 2022.
Sources:
Taşdelen, E. Erdem Taşdelen. Url: http://www.erdemtasdelen.com/about.html (accessed Jan. 16, 2022).
