Arda Erdeniz
Cybernostalgia
If you travel back through time in the virtual space of the internet, you will likely come across broken links and images. In light of these lost means of expression Cybernostalgia seeks to explore the different ways that the internet connects back to us.
As an archive, the internet is an undeniable tool past media, objects, and consumables. Through the use of glitch, assemblage, and collage, I hope to create new meanings and forms of image making to represent the nature of this screen-based phenomenon.
The Internet itself could be a way of expression and material for art and music. Proven by the Vaporwave scene on the internet and other outlets. It is worth taking into consideration that this phenomenon is only created with pixels on screen without any materiality. Glitching these images are a reminder of the nature where these images exist, abstracting them into the basic color and forms, drawing connections to temporality of human memory on objects. Cybernostalgia aims to show this phenomenon through my lenses where I highlight these objects that have been lost to fast capitalism and technologies and as well as bringing back
my recent past in multiple forms, stripping it away from its archival and virtual nature and turning it into something new, tangible, and perhaps experienceable by everyone.
20 Million Turkish Liras:
20 Million Turkish Liras was a common pocket money for me during my childhood for daily expenses. Due to inflation, Turkish Lira denominations were slowly getting to the levels of millions starting from the 1980s. On January 1, 2005, Turkish government declared they are taking 6 zeros off of the currency. 20 million liras were now just 20 "New" Turkish Liras (the term New has then taken off in 2009) and with a new face. And the currency changed its design and name. It took a long time for people to adapt to this change while they still called their currency in millions, billions and trillions. Some older people still call Liras in millions to this day.
Tazos:
Tazos are disks that were distributed as promotional items with products of Frito-Lay and its subsidiaries around the world. The idea behind Tazos started out similar to Pogs during the 1950's in Hawaii. Goal of the game is to 'win' Tazos from other players. The game is played with people stacking their tazos into a pile while other players throw their tazos on top of the stack. If the player who has thrown the tazo has flipped a few tazos from the stack they get to keep it for themselves. One could say in a way it was one's introduction to gambling. While for others the game could be an opportunity to trade with other players to collect all of the tazos. Giving pre-teens a first taste in free market economics.
