A Radical Prescription for a Changing Art World

Borusan Contemporary presents BITTER MEDICINE #02, an exhibition by artist duo :mentalKLINIK (Yasemin Baydar & Birol Demir), offering a bold response to the transformative pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the art world rapidly adapts to new realities, this project serves as both a reflection and a prescription, a dynamic, ever-changing performative installation that unfolds in real-time, streamed 24/7 from Borusan Contemporary.

A New Reality, A New Exhibition

Set within the iconic Haunted Mansion, the exhibition features Puff Out, a striking site-specific installation composed of eight autonomous robot vacuums and glitter, creating an endless, unpredictable choreography of movement and light. As public health precautions temporarily close the physical space, the exhibition transcends its physical boundaries, transforming into a continuous digital experience, accessible worldwide through live streaming on Borusan Contemporary’s website and social media channels.

Art in the Public Sphere: Live on Istiklal Avenue

Curated by Dr. Necmi Sönmez, BITTER MEDICINE #02 extends beyond the virtual, making its presence felt in the physical world. The exhibition will also be broadcast 24/7 on a screen at Borusan Music House, offering a public intervention along Istanbul’s bustling Istiklal Avenue, where passersby can witness its evolving visual language.

Endless Motion: A Digital and Physical Performance

Through Puff Out, :mentalKLINIK creates an immersive, algorithm-driven “micro-climate”, a fusion of drawing, painting, installation, sculpture, performance, and video art. The autonomous movement of robotic elements across a glittering surface generates fleeting, ever-changing patterns, an infinite and unrepeated visual symphony.

This work mirrors the uncertainty and constant flux of contemporary life, questioning our relationship with technology, surveillance, and digital aesthetics. It invites the audience to experience a world where hyperrealism merges with abstraction, where the boundaries between art, viewer, and digital space blur.

A Provocative Response to a Precarious Era

BITTER MEDICINE #02 is more than an exhibition, it is a critical, thought-provoking gesture that confronts the ambiguities of data-driven existence, shifting identities, and the commodification of experience in the digital age.

This ongoing series debuted at Belgrade Contemporary Art Museum in 2020, where it was streamed live during the museum’s closure due to the pandemic. Now, its second iteration at Borusan Contemporary continues the exploration of art’s role in a world reshaped by crisis.