Tavaf, from the Turkish word meaning to circle a sacred site, was born from the artist’s need to pause during making. The body asked for rest yet the work held the artist close, making it impossible to leave even for a moment. When the studio lights repeatedly shut off, circular movements to reactivate the sensor became part of the process and slowly formed a ritual of their own. Tavaf explores the rhythm of daily routines and the interplay between intentional and unintentional actions confined to the authenticity of actual time and space. At its core, it captures a meditative ritual born from necessity through an instinctive and repetitive movement performed around a metal structure assembled by the artist.

 

The structure consists of discarded industrial lighting panels salvaged from the trash room of the artist’s studio building which were once integral to the building’s function but are now rendered obsolete as urban spaces undergo demolition and renewal. These metal pieces, arranged under the ceiling light sensor, became both a marker of the space and the catalyst for this unplanned ritual. Each time the studio lights shut off, the artist’s circular movement reactivated the sensor to briefly illuminate the room. This repeated action, performed over days and months, transformed into a meditative and profound exploration of stillness, rhythm, and reflection. The discarded lighting panels are recontextualized through this process to bridge the tension between permanence and disappearance. By capturing this repetitive sequence, Tavafhighlights how the interruptions of urban life can give rise to unexpected rituals that are senseless yet grounding and robotic yet spiritual.