The Threshold

At first, I thought I was searching for Alice.

Then for the hole she fell into.

Then for time itself.

Now, I am no longer sure.

With every step in Istanbul,

the hole grows larger.

And Alice,

the closer I get to her,

the farther she moves away.

The Cradle

Choosing sixty gates
to trace Alice’s footsteps
is almost impossible.

Istanbul itself
hides gates yet to be discovered.

So,
I shortened the search.

I left the city
and turned toward the gates of the body.

Toward people.

The body preserves
an invisible trace:

A sign,
a map,
desire.

The task is difficult.

For passing through people
is harder than passing through cities.

But there is no escape.

I have to speak with them.

Action × Contemplation

What is to be done?

To cross,
I must lighten myself.

As Ishtar descended
into the underworld,
I too shall cross.

I remove what I believe in
to be seen,

And enter darkness
to see.

I will cross with simple tools,
and one assumption:

• The body comes before language

• Seeing comes before speech

• The body speaks first

Excavation Tools

• Shutter

• 50mm lens

• Opaque surface

• Hand flashlight

The First Equation

Reducing the sixty gates
to ten original gates:

1. Gate of Ishtar

2. Gate of Sound

3. Gate of Time

4. Gate of Signifier

5. Gate of Eye

6. Gate of Touch

7. Gate of Intuition

8. Gate of Breath

9. Gate of Tremor

10. Gate of West