IN CONVERSATION WITH SELVER YILDIRIM
INTERVIEW BY DAMLA BOZOGLU
Selver is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in Istanbul. Using different mediums and materials, she starts her days off with dancing and ends them by e-mailing. Spiritual and creative processes come up at the night time, where she feels like she has been living all day to get to these glorious hours. Play the playlist below and enjoy our conversation!
WHAT DOES A WORK DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU? HOW DO YOU PRACTICE?
I DANCE. DANCING IS A GOOD START BECAUSE MY BODY AND MY MIND WAKE UP WITH FUN AND I'M ADDICTED TO IT. I COMPLETE THE WORK DAY BY WRITING MAIL, PREPARING FILES, DOING DIGITAL DESIGN ETC. ALTHOUGH IT IS GREAT TO PAINT IN THE DAYLIGHT, I AM IN THE MOST CREATIVE MOOD AND I COMMUNICATE WITH MYSELF BEST AROUND 3-4 A.M. THEREFORE, MORE SPIRITUAL AND CREATIVE PROCESSES SUCH AS PAINTING OR WRITING COME UP TO THE NIGHT TIME. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN LIVING ALL DAY TO GET TO THESE GLORIOUS HOURS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS ON WORKING FROM HOME?
THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE I CAN GIVE; THE ROOMS WHERE YOU WORK, LIVE AND SLEEP MUST BE DIFFERENT. OTHERWISE YOU HAVE THE DANGER OF MIXING YOUR BED, YOUR PAINTING, THE TIME YOU SPEND WITH YOUR FRIENDS, THE FOOD YOU EAT. STILL, IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR ME TO BE IN A COMFORTABLE SPACE. I CAN DO IT ANYWHERE IF I WANT TO CREATE SOMETHING.
HOW MUCH OF YOUR TIME IS SPEND WORKING ON YOUR PROJECTS DAILY?
YOU KNOW, I'M ON TOP OF SOMETHING EVERY TIME I DON'T SLEEP. WHEN THERE'S A WORKSHOP I WORK FOR DAYS. IF I'M AT HOME, EVEN WHEN I'M NOT ON AN ARTISTIC PROCESS, I RESEARCH CONTENT ON A TOPIC I'M INTERESTED IN AND I WRITE MY THOUGHTS OR POETRY.
WHAT DO YOU DO ON YOUR FREE TIME/WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING?
I'M NOT SEPARATING MY WORK AND MY LIFE BUT I TALK WITH MY IMAGINARY FRIEND EJDER IN MY FREE TIME THESE DAYS.
WHAT ARE SOME COOL WEBSITES WE SHOULD VISIT NOW?
HTTP://TZVETNIK.ONLINE
HTTPS://SOUNDCLOUD.COM/ANDY-HECK-BOYD
HTTP://8BALLTV.CLUB
HTTP://FRUITSOFTHEWEB.TUMBLR.COM
HTTP://CATBOXCONTEMPORARY.COM
WHAT TYPE OF THINGS DO YOU EAT ON WORK DAYS (OR NIGHTS)?
I'M THAT PERSON WHO EATS TO STAY ALIVE. WHEN I WORK HARD I COULD EVEN FORGET TO EAT. I THINK MY FAVORITE FOOD IS A TOAST WITH CHERRY JAM + COFFEE. REALLY SIMPLE.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON A SEARCH FOR CREATIVE MEANING AND DEFINING WHO YOU ARE?
OF COURSE. IF I'M NOT IN SEARCH OF CREATIVE MEANING, I FEEL LIKE A WORTHLESS TIME KILLER. IF I DO NOT SEE THE HISTORY OF MANKIND IN AN EMPTY FOOTBALL FIELD OR AM NOT AFFECTED BY THE AESTHETICS OF MOLDY ORANGES, WHAT AM I?
IT'S INTERESTING TO DEFINE WHO I AM. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOURSELF, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN RESEARCHING IS OVER. THE END OF THE SEARCHING ONESELF IS AS UNPLEASANT AS NOT KNOWING ONESELF. MAYBE, BY THE TIME PASSES, WE JUST LOOK FROM ANOTHER ANGLE OF THE PERSON WHO WE ALREADY ARE.
SELVER RECOMMENDS: FIND TIME AND AREAS TO BE ALONE. DON’T TRUST INSTAGRAM. DRINK WARM WATER WITH LEMON IN THE MORNING. KISS. NEVER FORGET TO INCLUDE FANTASY IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU CAN CHECK SELVER’S WORKS ON HER INSTAGRAM. SHE ALSO MADE US AN INTENSE WORK MODE PLAYLIST, WHICH YOU CAN LISTEN TO BELOW.