Becoming by Cemre Yeşil Gönenli

This is a limited edition book published by FiLBooks and Daire Sanat as a souvenir from exhibition entitled Becoming: Cure as Care / Olagelen: İhtimam curated by the artist Cemre Yeşil Gönenli  in  March 2018. As an artist, academician, photographer and perhaps a curator 'to become', Cemre Yeşil Gönenli aims to create a space to ‘learn and teach’ under the shadow of ‘sharing’ and ‘becoming’, by bringing together not only all those people she has learned from; like her students, her teachers, and her peers, but also their various stories on 'becoming' they have told through photographs. The book includes works by the various artists: ARTISTS: ECE AK, RITA PUIG SERRA COSTA, ORHAN CEM ÇETİN, SİNEM DİŞLİ, EDA EMİRDAĞ, CEMİL BATUR GÖKÇEER, ATA KAM, CANSU KORKMAZ, TOROS MUTLU, LARA ÖGEL, ANI EKİN ÖZDEMİR, BARTU KAAN ÖZDİŞÇİ, DANI PUJALTE, SOFIE PUTTFARKEN, CHARLOTTE SCHIMITZ, YUSUF SEVİNÇLİ, ANDERS RYE SKJOLDJENSEN, MARIA STURM, BÜŞRA ŞENGÜL, SERKAN TAYCAN, GÖZDE MİMİKO TÜRKKAN, YAĞIZ YEŞİLKAYA, CANSU YILDIRAN, ATAHAN YILMAZ

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'Becoming a Photographer'
Becoming' has a lot to do with learning. In order to 'become' something, we all have to learn certain things, and we all have to become many things in order to 'be' who we are - a student, a teacher, a doctor, a dancer or a photographer. Some people are very effective on who we become; such as good teachers, peers and even people who are supposed to learn from us. They make us grow through what they teach us. Teaching makes us learn a lot. Teaching is about 'sharing' and 'becoming'. Thus, 'to become a photographer' is not easy, it takes a lot to learn to tell a story through photographs. To keep looking at how other people do it is one of the best ways to learn photography. Although one may convince her/himself that s/he is a photographer after a certain period of education and practice, it is not that easy to become a photographer in other people's eyes. I still remember how excited I felt when my name was listed on the same exhibition poster as some of my teachers or with some "emerging artists." It was almost like a manifestation that I finally 'became a photographer.' I know that there are people feeling the same joy now in this exhibition, and I find it very valuable. In this sense, I wish that by bringing together not only all those people I have learned from, like my students, my teachers, and my peers, but also the various stories on 'becoming' they have told through photographs, this exhibition would create a space to 'learn and teach' under the shadow of 'sharing' and 'becoming.'


Becoming a Photographer
'Becoming' is closely related to learning. To 'become' something, we need to learn certain things. Whoever we are—whether a student, a teacher, a doctor, a dancer, or a photographer—we become many other things that make us who we are. Some people also have a great influence on who we become; For example, we grow through what we learn from good teachers, colleagues, and even those who want to learn from us. Teaching teaches a lot. Teaching is about sharing and 'becoming'. 'Becoming a photographer' is not easy; learning to tell a story with photographs requires a lot of effort. Perhaps one of the best ways to learn photography is to never stop looking at how other people do it. After a certain period of training and practice, one can convince oneself that one is a photographer, but being a photographer in the eyes of others is not so easy. I still remember the excitement I felt when my name was first mentioned on an exhibition poster alongside some of my teachers or those considered "rising artists" in their careers; it felt like an announcement that I was finally a "photographer." I know that there are those among those who contributed to this exhibition who feel the same excitement, and I find this very valuable. In this sense, this exhibition is a tribute to many people from whom I have learned something; By bringing together my students, teachers, fellow artists, and the many stories they tell about 'being' through photographs, I hope to create a space for 'learning' and 'teaching' in the shadow of 'sharing' and 'being'.