Ali KAZMA

1971, Istanbul
Lives an works in Istanbul and Paris

[EN] Ali Kazma’s works raise fundamental questions about the meaning and significance of contemporary human presence and activity. His works, which have strong associations and dialogues with one another aim to create conceptual and physical spaces, which foster aesthetic and ethical discourse on a range of interconnected topics. The artist shoots and edits all the works himself.

Between 2006 and 2015, Ali Kazma has primarily developed video art, structured around two series, entitled Obstructions and Resistance. His videos explore the world of industrial, artisanal and artistic production, constituting an immense archive of the contemporary world of work. Each video piece is a study of the gestures and techniques of the workers, of their relationship to the machines and tools, the rhythm of work and the cadence of automatic production lines. From global seed vaults to cryonics, from taxidermy to literature, from a brain surgery procedure to an entirely automated car manufacturing plant, Ali Kazma questions the effects of scientific research and progress on human activity, as well as the control man exercises over his environment and his constant desire to adapt his surroundings. The notion of perfection, technical or artistic expertise, or indeed the resistance of the human body are just some of the themes explored in his work.

Ali Kazma completed his BA in the University of Colorado at Boulder and received his MA from The New School University in New York City. The artist, who represented Turkey at the 55th Venice Biennale- Pavilion of Turkey in 2013, had a comprehensive solo exhibition at Jeu de Paume, Paris in 2017. Ali Kazma’s solo exhibitions include: Analix Forever (Geneva, 2020), Galeri Nev İstanbul (Istanbul, 2019), Albergo Diurno Venezia (Milan, 2018), MUNTREF (Buenos Aires, 2018), Arter (Istanbul, 2015), CAPRI (Düsseldorf, 2015), Hirshhorn Museum (Washington, 2010). Group exhibitions and biennials include 6th Kuandu Biennale (Taipei, 2018), 7th Moscow International Biennale of Contemporary Art (Moscow, 2017), MAXXI (Rome, 2016), Musée d'Art Contemporaine de Lyon (Lyon, 2013), 30th Sao Paulo Biennial (Sao Paulo, 2012), Istanbul Biennial (Istanbul, 2001, 2007, 2011) Muzeum Sztuki Lodz (Lodz, 2012), Istanbul Modern (Istanbul, 2011), Museum Kunstpalast (Düsseldorf, 2010) and New Museum (New York, 2010).

Ali Kazma has received the UNESCO Prize for Promotion of the Arts in 2001 and the Nam June Paik Award in 2010. The artist’s works have been included in a number of institutional collections such as CNAP (Paris), Istanbul Modern, MEP (Paris), MONA (Tasmania), Sztuki Museum (Lodz), Tate Modern (London), TBA21 (Vienna), Foundation Louis Vuitton Collection (Paris) and VKV Foundation Collection (Istanbul).

[FR] Les œuvres d'Ali Kazma soulèvent des questions fondamentales sur le sens et la signification de la présence et de l'activité humaines. Ses œuvres, en associations et dialogues les unes avec les autres, visent à créer une cartographie de l’activité humaine. L'artiste photographie et édite lui-même toutes les œuvres.

Entre 2006 et 2015, Ali Kazma a principalement développé et structuré son œuvre autour de deux séries, intitulées Obstructions et Résistance. Ses vidéos explorent le monde de la production industrielle, artisanale et artistique, constituant ainsi une immense archive du monde du travail contemporain. Chaque vidéo est une étude des gestes et techniques des travailleur.se.s, de leur rapport aux machines et aux outils, du rythme de travail et de la cadence des lignes de production automatiques. Des chambres fortes mondiales à la cryogénie, de la taxidermie à la littérature, d’un boc de neurochirurgie à une usine automobile entièrement automatisée, Ali Kazma interroge les effets de la recherche et du progrès scientifique sur l'activité humaine, ainsi que le contrôle que l'homme exerce sur son environnement et son désir constant de s’adapter à son milieu. La notion de perfection, du geste juste, celui de l’homme comme celui de la machine, ou encore la résistance des corps sont quelques-uns des thèmes explorés dans son œuvre.

Ali Kazma a obtenu sa licence à l'université du Colorado à Boulder et son master à la New School University de New York. L'artiste, qui a représenté la Turquie à la 55e Biennale de Venise - Pavillon de la Turquie en 2013, a eu une exposition personnelle au Jeu de Paume, à Paris en 2017. Parmi les nombreuses expositions personnelles de l’artiste ; Analix Forever (Genève, 2020), Galeri Nev İstanbul (Istanbul, 2019), Albergo Diurno Venezia (Milan, 2018), MUNTREF (Buenos Aires, 2018), Arter (Istanbul, 2015), CAPRI (Düsseldorf, 2015), Hirshhorn Museum (Washington, 2010). Les expositions de groupe et biennales d’art contemporain comprennent notamment la 6e Biennale de Kuandu (Taipei, 2018), la 7e Biennale internationale d'art contemporain de Moscou (Moscou, 2017), MAXXI (Rome, 2016), le Musée d'Art Contemporain de Lyon (Lyon, 2013), 30e Biennale de Sao Paulo (Sao Paulo, 2012), Biennale d'Istanbul (Istanbul, 2001, 2007, 2011) Muzeum Sztuki Lodz (Lodz, 2012), Istanbul moderne (Istanbul, 2011), Museum Kunstpalast (Düsseldorf, 2010) et New Museum (New York, 2010).

Ali Kazma a reçu le prix de l'UNESCO pour la promotion des arts en 2001 et le prix Nam June Paik en 2010. Ses œuvres font désormais parties d’un grand nombre de collections publiques et privées telles que le CNAP (Paris), Istanbul Modern, MEP (Paris), MONA (Tasmanie), Sztuki Museum (Lodz), Tate Modern (Londres), TBA21 (Vienne), Fondation Louis Vuitton Collection (Paris) et VKV Foundation Collection (Istanbul).

Download CV (June 2021)

WORKS

Top Fuel, 2020, HD video with sound, 16’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP, Co-produced by Les Moulins de Paillard

Neurosurgeon, 2020, HD video with sound, 16’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP

Subterranean, 2016, Two-channel projected video with sound, 5’20’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP

Play, from the series Resistance, 2014, Single channel video, 7’50’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP

Home, from the series Resistance, 2014, Single channel video, 5’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP, Produced by Vehbi Koç Foundation

Tattoo, from the series Resistance, 2013, Single channel video, 08’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP, Courtesy of the artist and Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Art

Robot, from the series Resistance, 2013, Single channel video, 6’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP, Courtesy of the artist and Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts

Prison, from the series Resistance, 2013, Single channel video, 5’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP, Courtesy of the artist and Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts

Kinbaku, from the series Resistance, 2013, Single channel video, 5’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP, Courtesy of the artist and Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts

Film, from the series Resistance, 2013, Single channel video, 8’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP, Courtesy of the artist and Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts

Calligraphy, from the series Resistance, 2013, Single channel video, 6’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP, Courtesy of the artist and Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts

Past, 2023, Two channel video, endless loop, 5 Ed. + 1 AP, Courtesy of the artist and Jeu de Paume

Dancer, from the series Obstructions, 2009, Single channel video, 10’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP

Cuisine, from the series Obstructions, 2010, Single channel video, 10’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP

Casa di Moda, from the series Obstructions, 2009, Single channel video, 10’00’’, 5 Ed. + 1 AP

Dance Company, from the series Obstructions, 2009, Single channel video, 10’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP

Studio Ceramist, from the series Obstructions, 2007, Single channel video, 17’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP

Clock Master, from the series Obstructions, 20076, Single channel video, 15’00’’, 5 Ed. + 2 AP

TEXTS & PRESS SELECTION

As in film, so in life, Ali Kazma par Barbara Polla, galeriste, écrivain, par Fabien Ribéry, L’Intervalle, 2021

Ali Kazma : Comme dans la vie, donc dans le film, par Colette Khalaf, par L’Orient-Le Jour, 2021

Ali Kazma, Point Contemporain, n°18, 2020

Going Undeground, by Arie Amaya-Akkermans, Canvas, 2018

Ali Kazma, Time master, by Miriam Rosen, Mowwgli, 2018

ALI KAZMA : représenter l’activité humaine, par Régis Durand, artpress, n°403, 2013

Learning How to Live, by Fırat Arapoğlu, Flash Art, October 2013

Ali Kazma, by Barbara Polla, Drome Magazine, n°20, 2012