When the Waters Recede
April 2026 - March 2027
ISTANBUL
When the Waters Recede aims to listen to and understand a critical area in terms of ecological and cultural heritage, often overlooked in urban narratives, beyond established knowledge and accepted narratives. The starting point of the study is a blurry family photograph taken around the Ömerli Dam in the mid-1980s. The fact that Istanbul is a city defined by water, yet has historically faced access to it, forms the basic background of the project.
The dam, built in 1972, remains one of Istanbul's important water sources today, yet it is threatened by urbanization pressures and large construction projects. At the same time, it offers a multi-layered memory space with legends, myths, biodiversity, and recreational uses. Built on the Riva River, the dam provides a temporary escape for city dwellers through activities such as nature walks and camping.
Another element of the project involves a soundscape that reconstructs the lost soundscapes of Ömerli. This process involves collaboration with artist and sound researcher Fulya Uçanok.
Bringing together scientific and artistic research, the project aims to address the controversial status, legends, and human-water relations of the Ömerli Dam through a multimedia installation, offering a personal and critical perspective on dominant discourses about dams and natural areas.
