Bora Akinciturk was born in Ankara, Turkey– funnily enough, the region where a vernacular representation of the Sphinx, dated 9,500 BC, is believed to be found. Although very specific on a geographical basis, this is not the central link connecting Bora Akinciturk ’s work to the enigma of the Sphinx. Inserted into a realm of multiple possibilities, vaguity, obscure jokes and digital-tribal mysticism, the London-based artist develops a language entangling the real and the artificial.
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Here are his As to our Qs!
When are you happiest?
When I sleep late.
What motivates you?
Sneezing animals.
Which city or cities are centers of creativity and inspiration for you?
Istanbul, London and some snowy places in America I’ve never been in.
For you, what does Istanbul stand for?
Rainy Sundays, good food and early memories of Saturday morning cartoons.
What do you think about the city (cities) you live in?
I love living in big cities, bright lights at night and never ending sounds of the city really keeps me motivated.
Which era would you have preferred to live in?
The future.
What’s your current source of inspiration?
George Costanza, animals, tragedy and jokes without punchlines.
Your most memorable journey?
My journey to New York when I was in 10th grade. I was alone and felt like I was in “Catcher in the Rye”.
Who or what inspired you to be an artist?
I wasn’t inspired by someone to be an artist, I just found, out of necessity, what I like to do without getting bored, which were drawing, painting and making things.
What themes or visuals do you enjoy painting about the most?
I like painting about a subject in a way where i loose almost all visual aspects about it. In a way I try to get lost on purpose. But I do tend to repeat some visuals just like repeating colors.
Your favorite place to visit to get ideas?
I get ideas all the time but I forget most of them. I use the ones that are leftover. And I lie a lot.
Your most cherished possession?
My teeth.
How would you describe your world in 3 words?
Cakes, blogs and rock&roll.
Key moment in your life?
End of high school where I found out most of the things I’ve stressed myself about were not important.
Favorite recent discovery?
Riff Raff aka Jody Highroller.
Favorite artist of all times?
Pablo Picasso.
How will you be remembered?
By my funny shirts and hair.
What can’t you live without?
Water.
What’s on repeat on your iPod?
Ariel Pink.
Names of people whom you think revolutionized the art world?
Vincent Van Gogh, Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso.
What’s your motto?
Wake up.
If your creative works had an odor, what do you think they would smell like?
Plastic roses.
What is your favorite shop?
I really like the flea market in Spital Fields, London.
What would you title your autobiography?
Bora Akinciturk, A True Story.
What would we find in your refrigerator right now?
Diet Coke, water and some gum.
Is there a creative activity that you want to pursue that you have been postponing? What is it?
To make more music.
If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. With whom would it be?
I would like to be an animal for a week if possible. Almost any animal is ok.
What is the trait you most deplore about yourself?
I’m a bit lazy.