Prof. creates original works by blending his academic research with artistic practice. Nico Carpentier's exhibition 'Mirror of Conflict - Iconoclastic Controversies 2' was opened with a reception held at the Energy Museum on the Tatilistanbul Campus.
The exhibition, which deals with the monuments in Cyprus and how these monuments intersect with existing ideologies, can be visited until October 22.
Known for bringing together academic research and artistic practice, Prof. Nico Carpentier's "Mirror of Conflict - Iconoclastic Controversies 2" photography exhibition was opened with a reception held at Istanbul Bilgi University power plant Istanbul Campus Energy Museum. The opening of the exhibition, which deals with the monuments in Cyprus and how these monuments intersect with the dominant ideologies in the south and north of the island, was opened by Prof. It took place with the participation of Nico Carpentier.
Speaking at the opening reception of the exhibition, Istanbul Bilgi University Vice Rector and Faculty of Communication Media Department faculty member Prof. Dr. Aslı Tunç, "Especially if you are an academician in the field of media and communication, there is no one who does not know Prof. Nico Carpentier and his works, research, art and installations. The exhibition 'Mirror of Conflict - Iconoclast Debates 2', which opened today, is an intellectually remarkable and thought-provoking journey. The photographs here show us who the victims, heroes and leaders are, who the victims, heroes and leaders are, through the monuments in the north and south of Cyprus, freedom." "It offers an excellent platform for us to think about the concepts of victory and victory. Since BİLGİ is a university that has deepened in social sciences since its establishment, this is the right place to discuss nationalist discourses, ideologies and conflicts. This art-based research work overlaps with the research areas to which BİLGİ has been contributing for years."
Istanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Communication Dean Prof. Dr. Burak Özçetin stated that it was a privilege for them to host Nico Carpentier and Mirror of Conflict, an exhibition where creativity meets curiosity and discovery.
Nico Carpentier stated that it was a great pleasure for him to host the guests personally after all the effort spent on the preparations for the exhibition and continued his speech with the following words: "This project is a photography project that started 10 years ago, when I lived in Cyprus and discovered the discursive-material power of monuments. These works, often ignored by the logic of daily life, deserve more attention because they are time capsules that show how history and ideology are intertwined when looking at the past, present and future. They have a lot to teach us." "They are acts of communication, embodied narratives. This exhibition proves how academic and artistic studies can be integrated and reinforce each other. What you see are theoretically and methodologically supported academic investigations into the construction of the self and the enemy. You also see an artistic work where photography stands on its own, telling its own story."
The exhibition 'Mirror of Conflict - Iconoclast Debates 2' awaits its visitors at the Energy Museum until October 22.
Who is Nico Carpentier?
Prof. Nico Carpentier works full-time at Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic). Academician, curator and artist Prof. Nico Carpentier is one of the leading researchers in the world of communications. He is also the president of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (2020-2024). He has published extensively about Cyprus, including two books, The Discursive-Material Knot: Cyprus in Conflict and Community Media Participation (2017, Peter Lang, New York) and Iconoclastic Controversies: A Photographic Inquiry into Antagonistic Nationalism (2021, Intellect, Bristol). Prof. frequently uses art-based research methods by combining photography, sound art and installation art. As a result, Nico Carpentier created the exhibitions Respublika!, Iconoclastic Controversies I, Wolf Talks and The Mirror of Conflict (Iconoclastic Controversies II).
