Prof. Dr. Ali Akay was born in Istanbul in 1957. He studied sociology, philosophy and politics at Paris VIII University, and graduated in 1979. He completed his doctoral degree in philosophy at his alma mater in 1986. Akay has taught at the Sociology Department of Mimar Sinan University. He received a title of Associate Professor in 1992, and became a Professor in 1998. He has published many articles and books on art-sociology and philosophy in Turkish, French, German and English magazines, books and catalogues such as “Konu-m-lar”, “Michel Foucault İktidar & Direnme Odakları”, “İstanbul’da Rock Hayatı”, “Kıvrımlar”, “Postmodern Görüntu”, “Armağan”, “Sanatın Sosyolojik Gözü”, “Minör Politika”, “Sanatın ve Sosyolojinin Ruh Hali”, “Kapitalizm ve Pop Kültür”, “Tekil Düşünce”, and “Sanatın Durumları”.
Ali Akay has organized and curated numerous art exhibitions in national and international galleries and museums. He is an art curator and art adviser of Istanbul Modern and Akbank Culture and Art Center.
When are you happiest?
When I become light, during relaxed moments, and secure feeling minutes.
What motivates you?
I don’t know. Maybe the desire and feeling for things to start changing.
Which city or cities are centers of creativity and inspiration for you?
Istanbul, Paris, New York, Berlin; but they don’t inspire, they nurture.
For you, what does Istanbul stand for?
It’s the place I was born. I’m not nostalgic but yet I sometimes long for things past; knowingly, even if it’s foolish.
Your most memorable journey?
There are many; it’s more horizontal than vertical probably?
Places you go for inspiration?
Nulle part (nowhere)! Inspiration is not for me. But I can say that effect and emotions exist.
Your most cherished possession?
There are many things.
What and who caused you too choose your line of work?
I don’t know? Coincidence, chance encounters, experiences, tremors, uncertainties.
Key moment in your life?
I don’t know, there are probably many. I don’t think there is one whole.
Since we are all many and plural maybe the moments of the many others inside of us? What do you say?
That’s how it is probably.
Your latest discovery?
Being aware that language doesn’t progress to any point, that it has no purpose, that it is not about persuading someone, that it doesn’t foster an argument; to rediscover that it moves suspended over space and that it isn’t rooted to any source.
The best artist of all times?
I don’t have a single artist.
How will you be remembered?
I don’t know! Will I be remembered?
What can’t you live without?
I don’t care about shortcomings, excess doesn’t bother me either. I even like it.
Your favorite song?
The same song as ever (I did an exhibition with that title).
Who do you think revolutionized art?
There are so many, I couldn’t fit them all in here.
What do you criticize the most about yourself?
Not criticizing. But this doesn’t mean I’m content with myself; maybe it’s because I don’t like criticism and judgment?
“Being aware that language doesn’t progress to any point, that it has no purpose, that it is not about persuading someone, that it doesn’t foster an argument; to rediscover that it moves suspended over space and that it isn’t rooted to any source.”