Fahrettin Örenli (1969, Turkey) is what one would call a socially conscious artist. From environmental pollution to the expansion of the EU, the Amsterdammer, originally from Turkey, is invested in current affairs and takes a critical stance in his work. His project “Shadows of Dust,” to which this piece belongs, delves into the growth and development of a city. According to Örenli, modernizing countries sometimes change so rapidly that they seem to forget their past, their history. This is often evident in the urban landscape, as all traces of the past are often erased in the process of renewal. How should he, as a contemporary artist, relate to these ever-rushing developments? Can his work still be considered contemporary? Or is it outdated at the moment of its creation? Örenli’s computer-generated drawing, Shadows of Dust off IX (Buddha) (2015), in which he created a sort of surrealistic fantasy island, explores what was and what is yet to come. Is this our future? www.ftn-books.com has the A TOURIST IN LIFE publication now available
