Meriç Algün’s “The Patient Cries” at Lunds konsthall

From September 14 to December 1, 2024, Swedish-based Turkish artist and writer Meriç Algün will present The Patient Cries, a solo exhibition at Lunds konsthall, focusing on complex themes such as family roles, mental health, and identity. This exhibition is anchored in Algün’s new literary work, The Stepmother Violet, which she describes as “autofiction written in interrelated fragments.” The text is deeply personal and autobiographical, stemming from Algün’s own experiences of navigating stepmotherhood and societal expectations of caretaking.

Writing has always been a key part of Algün’s artistic practice. Through The Patient Cries, her text takes center stage, shaping the entire exhibition. The literary narrative is not only included in the exhibition’s catalogue but also translated into a full-scale installation that reimagines the bare structure of the artist’s apartment within the gallery space. Visitors are invited to explore this immersive environment, shifting between roles as guests, intruders, and witnesses, to piece together the intricate emotions reflected in the work.

The Stepmother’s Journey: Writing and Installation

At the heart of The Patient Cries lies Algün’s exploration of what it means to be a stepmother, and how this identity intersects with mental health struggles and evolving caretaking roles. Algün’s writing confronts the personal and societal challenges stepmothers face, weaving together these issues with her own reflections on familial dynamics, gender expectations, and mental well-being in contemporary western society.

In a unique conceptual approach, Algün recreates the essence of her personal space through architectural elements, allowing visitors to feel as though they are stepping into the artist’s emotional world. The reproduction of her apartment in the gallery is sparse but intentional, representing both the physical and emotional voids she has experienced.

Complementing this installation is a custom wallpaper designed by Algün, which encapsulates her emotional journey as depicted in her writing. This wallpaper design, developed over several years, serves as a visual representation of the complex internal processes she navigated while creating The Stepmother Violet. Both the wallpaper and the literary text have been carefully documented and are integral parts of the exhibition.

Artistic Practice: Identity, Language, and Fluidity

Meriç Algün’s artistic practice is heavily research-driven, often focusing on themes related to identity, language, bureaucracy, and culture. Born in Istanbul in 1983, Algün has lived and worked in Stockholm for many years, and her experiences of navigating different cultures, languages, and systems are central to her work. She frequently reflects on her own fluid identity as an immigrant, grappling with the complexities of being situated between two countries and two cultures.

In The Patient Cries, these themes are interwoven with her investigation of gender roles, motherhood, and the evolving nature of family structures in the West. The exhibition also invites viewers to consider how personal experiences of caregiving and identity can become universal narratives, particularly within the context of a rapidly changing society.

Algün’s fascination with definitions and language plays a key role in her work. As both an artist and a writer, she delves into the boundaries of these mediums, questioning how words and images intersect to shape our understanding of identity and personal history.

A Broader Cultural Reflection

Algün’s new exhibition also engages with broader societal issues, such as the shifting dynamics of caregiving roles, particularly within families, and how mental health is navigated in today’s world. Through her autobiographical lens, she offers insight into these evolving roles, presenting her experiences in a manner that is both intimate and deeply reflective.

As visitors walk through her recreated apartment and observe the carefully crafted wallpaper, they are invited to reflect on the invisible burdens often carried by caretakers—particularly women—and the emotional labor that comes with such roles. Algün’s exhibition seeks to unearth these often-hidden layers of emotional complexity, giving them physical form in the gallery space.

The Patient Cries is a testament to Meriç Algün’s ability to bridge the worlds of writing and visual art, creating a deeply personal and thought-provoking exhibition. By centering her narrative within the exhibition space, Algün blurs the line between the artist’s private world and the public gallery setting, inviting visitors to reflect on their own experiences of identity, family, and mental health. As the exhibition runs through December 2024, it offers a space for dialogue and reflection on the roles we play in our families and society.