Mehtap Baydu

OSMAN

April 06 – 30, 2023

The project Osman is an ongoing performance work by artist Mehtap Baydu (lives and works in Berlin). Osman is a stereotypical representation of the workers who came to Western Europe from Turkey in the 1960s. In Germany at the time, they were called foreign- or guest workers. Findings from Baydu’s intensive studies of black-and-white photographs from that time form the basis for the development of the project.

Osman lived in a social environment limited to a place to work and sleep. He drew strength for his work from the fact that he was able to help his family in Turkey achieve modest prosperity through the money he earned. The self-sacrificing and proud Osman soon had the desire to bring his own family to the economic miracle country.

On April 20, at 10:40 a.m., Mr. Osman will be officially registered as a citizen of the city of Baden-Baden for a certain period of time. He will try to become a citizen of this city.

Osman can be visited from April 06 to 30, 2023 in the project room of the Staatliche Kunsthalle. The entrance is free.