Goat on the Mountain, Moon in the Sky, Fish in the Water
May 2022 - February 2023
TUNCELİ (DERSİM)
The project entitled Goat on the Mountain, Moon in the Sky, Fish in the Water is an inquiry into the relationship between people and mountain goats that are allowed to be hunted in Dersim, mining and water pollution, and the Mediterranean trout facing extinction because of hydro power dams and overhunting. Human impact on the environment threatens endemic diversity and natural resources like water and forests. In addition to the changes brought about by the climate crisis, the project examines the direct intervention of the people in power to geography and nature, and the cultural and social approach of the local people to the destruction that has occurred.
The title of the project is derived from an expression often used in Dersim: Goat on the mountain, moon in the sky, fish in the water are sacred. The mountain goats of Dersim are sacred to the people of this land. Through art practices, the project intends to highlight the hunting of these goats, showcase the wealth of nature in this region, display the range of cultural attitudes towards nature, and address the growing environmental degradation. Talks with locals, documenting spaces, and visual and print archival research are among the activities planned to bring to light the beliefs of people of Dersim, the differences between their views on environmental matters, and how that impacts their lives.
