Can Altay

Often drawing inspiration from his background in architecture, Can Altay investigates the spontaneous, unsanctioned use of urban space. Transformative as it is documentary, Altay’s work creates a dialogue around various subcultural and environmental phenomena—filming, photographing, and writing about the ideological and theoretical use of space. These texts are also part of Altay’s visual work, his marginalia and annotation on Post-its weaving a diagram of academic exploration. While the function of architecture is notably present in Altay’s work, particularly his installations, the heart of his critical and visual exploration is people—their micro-politics, behavioral traits, illegal street parties, and social relationships.

Altay’s solo exhibitions include “Casco: Office for Art, Design and Theory,” Utrecht, NL, Showroom, London, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, Germany, Spike Island, Bristol, UK, Sala Rekalde, Bilbao, Spain. Public projects include a Cultural Olympiad Commission, Frieze Projects East, Festival of 2012, London, UK, "The Ground was Divided, We Jumped," at the Transeuropa Festival, in London, Paris, Bologna, Cluj Napoca, 2011 and "PARK: Bir Ihtimal," at Nişantaşı Cumhuriyet Parkı, Istanbul, 2010. Altay teaches at the Istanbul Bilgi University, Faculty of Architecture.