Ahmet Polat

The Planes are Flying Low Above Our Bodies
“The Planes are Flying Low Above Our Bodies” are words written by Çağlar Köseoğlu (Belgium), published in his book called 34. The number 34 refers to the number of people that died during the coup d’état in 2016. I was in a plane that took of just before the coup started. I had the early flight to Amsterdam so I only realised what was happening in Istanbul after I landed. I immediately called my brother who was still in Istanbul to see how he was doing. He told me he was still walking the streets, even though there was a curfew at that moment. “I mean, life goes on, whatever happens”, he said.
This short conversation with my brother sums up how we have all become accustomed to the day-to-day life in Istanbul. We see what is happening, on the news and on the streets, but we can’t be bothered. Life just goes on and things have to get done. Somehow this seems the only way to survive . By creating your own bubble and focussing on only those things that keep you going these artists have found a way to retain their personal view and voice. Some may say they get their strength and sanity from making the work. Within the current climate it’s our duty to find ways to sustain and support those voices whenever and wherever we can.