Alaturka (2024) . Aligned (2024) . Gamma State (2024) . You Are My Sunshine and the Apple of My Eye (2024) . Tavaf (2024) . Alafranga (2023) . αI (2023) . βI (2023) . αVulva (2023) . βII (2023) . αIII (2023) . αIV (2023) . Vivarium (2022) . In Bed (2020) . Continuum (2019) . Singular (2018) .
Singular (London, 2018-ongoing)
Digital Photography Series, Wall Projection
Singular presents a photographic series that documents the curious phenomenon of lone shoes abandoned on streets and in public spaces. Begun in 2018 as an observation that led to iPhone photography documentation, the work reflects an ongoing fascination with overlooked details in everyday life. Capturing these solitary objects which are normally part of an inseparable pair, the series transforms them into symbols of mystery, narrative possibility, and quiet poignancy. A shoe is inherently plural and always conceived as part of a duo consisting of one right and one left. Its singularity is an anomaly and a disruption of its intended purpose. A single shoe is a rare occurrence in a world built on symmetry and duality such as day and night, life and death, or left and right. This rarity prompts the artist to imagine the untold stories behind these solitary objects. Was it left behind in a moment of haste, a survival instinct driving someone forward so urgently that they abandoned one shoe? Or perhaps it marked an ecstatic reunion where a loved one rushed into an embrace so fervent that they didn’t notice the shoe slipping off.
The imagined scenarios multiply with each encounter. Was it the aftermath of a marathon runner determined to reach the finish line, leaving the shoe behind as a small sacrifice for their victory? Or a savior sprinting to rescue a drowning person, shedding a flip flop on the beach in their urgency to save a life? Perhaps a mischievous dog snatched a flip flop in secret only to discard it when the novelty wore off, leaving its owner stranded and bewildered. Could it be the trace of a sibling’s jealousy or a discarded shoe tossed in frustration but not quite making it to the trash? Or the mark of someone fleeing their past and racing along a dock toward an uncertain future? What happened to its pair? Was it still waiting and missing its partner? Did the separation strip it of its purpose or could someone find meaning in its solitude and perhaps even cherish it? These imaginative narratives unfold around each captured shoe to elevate an otherwise mundane object into a site of endless possibility. By documenting this phenomenon over several years and across various locations, the artist creates an archive of these small yet poignant mysteries while inviting viewers to ponder the connections between loss, movement, and human presence.
The work also carries a subtle connection to the artist’s cultural background where a lone child’s shoe is believed to bring good luck to whoever finds it. It is not uncommon for people to keep such shoes in their homes or offices or even hang them on the rearview mirrors of their cars. However, for the artist, this belief intersects with a childhood memory that is both impactful and formative which perhaps explains the magnetic pull she feels toward these objects. A singular shoe, far from being just an urban anomaly, becomes a vessel for unspoken stories that blend cultural symbolism, personal memory, and collective wonder. Singular ultimately reflects on the overlooked details of urban life and transforms them into moments of curiosity and quiet reflection. It blurs the line between fact and fiction while encouraging the audience to engage with the enigmatic traces left behind in public spaces and to imagine the lives, emotions, and circumstances that led to these silent remnants. Through this ongoing series, the artist continues to explore the poetry of separation, the intrigue of the mundane, and the beauty of paying attention to what others might ignore.