Tate Modern Visit - Primary Research

 For the main part of my primary research so far I went to the Tate Modern to see some work based around isolation, to see if there were any themes I could bring forward and discuss. I went there with the intention of seeing a specific artists work; Gülsün Karamustafa who is a an artist originally from Turkey. I saw her collection called Prison Paintings (1972-8) and it visually demonstrates the experiences she endured when she was arrested and imprisoned after the Turkish military coup in 1971. She had been aiding political activists and spent 6 months behind bars. Her varied collection represents the experiences she and other women endure prison with, you are able to see the many layers these women had as they shared their prison life together. That being prisoners, mothers, wives, friends and the complex situations that confronts them when separated from that huge part of what makes them who they are. 

During the 1970’s Turkey had a very restrictive political climate and these, sometimes harsh paintings, capture the physical and psychological effects of these realities. How isolation with hard conditions can take such a huge toll on a person and who they believe to be.

- Certain beauty behind some paintings, despite conditions they come together to aid and support one another.

- Depending on what person you are can depend on how you respond to something like this 

- How different did they feel before and after they were imprisoned, does isolation always have a lasting effect?









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