Neriman Polat

Mülk Allahındır, 2007, Betebe application, glass mosaic, variable dimensions

My work titled ”Mülk Allahındır” is an adaptation for the exhibition space of a phrase—and the wall that carries it—that one might encounter in public space, particularly in residential neighbourhoods. It is produced using glass mosaic, or Betebe, an exterior cladding material that has been widely used since the 1980s. Rich in associations and layers of meaning, the phrase first directs us towards questions of belonging, property, and power relations. Although it forms part of a patriarchal discourse, it also carries a powerful reminder that we possess nothing in this world and that ownership is ultimately meaningless. In the work, the juxtaposition of the word “Allah” with an inexpensive exterior cladding material creates a sense of tension. In the face of the destruction and victimisation caused by urban transformation, the statement ”Mülk Allahındır” also acquires an ironic dimension.