Yelta Köm
Yelta Köm is an artist who integrates architectural, artistic, and spatial practices to explore social and political issues. Collaboration is essential to his work, which employs diverse methodologies and materials. His projects focus on spatial interventions, resistance movements, technology, and critical perspectives on architectural technologies and representation techniques.
His recent work includes "Nightlife as a Resistance" at Tarabya Kultur Akademie with Ulya Soley, participation in the "Timeless Curiosities" exhibition at Istanbul Modern Museum, and the ongoing "Lines of Displacement" project with Arazi Collective, comissioned by Against Catastrophe.
Köm received his undergraduate degree from the Department of Architecture at Yıldız Technical University and completed his master's degree at the Städelschule Academy of Fine Arts. He participated in Micro Residency (Athens) in 2018 and in SAHA Studio (as part of the Silent University Orientation Program) in 2022. Köm's personal and collective works have been exhibited in several biennials, museums, galleries and art institutions such as Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul Design Biennial, Venice Architecture Biennale, Maxxi Museum (Rome), Goethe-Institut (Athens, Ankara), SALT (Istanbul), V&A Museum (London), nGbK (Berlin), The Art Institute of Chicago, Gallery UM (Prague), transmediale vorspiel Silent Green (Berlin), Chicago Architecture Biennial, TOP e.V (Berlin), and Versus Art Project (Istanbul).
Yelta Köm is currently working as a researcher on the Topological Atlas project hosted by TU Delft and is teaching at Practices and Politics of Representation at the department of Bauhaus Universität Weimar Faculty of Architecture. Co-founder Architecture for All and the artists lives and work in Berlin. He is represented by Versus Art Project; Istanbul.
His recent work includes "Nightlife as a Resistance" at Tarabya Kultur Akademie with Ulya Soley, participation in the "Timeless Curiosities" exhibition at Istanbul Modern Museum, and the ongoing "Lines of Displacement" project with Arazi Collective, comissioned by Against Catastrophe.
Köm received his undergraduate degree from the Department of Architecture at Yıldız Technical University and completed his master's degree at the Städelschule Academy of Fine Arts. He participated in Micro Residency (Athens) in 2018 and in SAHA Studio (as part of the Silent University Orientation Program) in 2022. Köm's personal and collective works have been exhibited in several biennials, museums, galleries and art institutions such as Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul Design Biennial, Venice Architecture Biennale, Maxxi Museum (Rome), Goethe-Institut (Athens, Ankara), SALT (Istanbul), V&A Museum (London), nGbK (Berlin), The Art Institute of Chicago, Gallery UM (Prague), transmediale vorspiel Silent Green (Berlin), Chicago Architecture Biennial, TOP e.V (Berlin), and Versus Art Project (Istanbul).
Yelta Köm is currently working as a researcher on the Topological Atlas project hosted by TU Delft and is teaching at Practices and Politics of Representation at the department of Bauhaus Universität Weimar Faculty of Architecture. Co-founder Architecture for All and the artists lives and work in Berlin. He is represented by Versus Art Project; Istanbul.
less
InterestsView All (15)
Uploads
Papers by Yelta Köm
"Üç Kapı" sergisi, Hanau’daki Arena Bar saldırısı, saldırganın evi ve Dessau’daki Oury Jalloh’un hücresini merkeze alarak devlet şiddeti ve ırkçılığı mekânsal analizlerle ele alıyor. Forensic Architecture’ın yöntemleriyle şekillenen sergi, mimarlık ve adalet arasındaki ilişkiyi sorgularken, kamusal alanda hakikat arayışına katkı sağlıyor. Göçmen karşıtı şiddet ve kurumsal ihmaller bağlamında Almanya ve Türkiye’deki örnekler üzerinden hafıza, adalet ve direnişin mekânsal temsillerini inceliyor.
---
The "Three Doors" exhibition examines state violence and racism through spatial analysis of three sites: the locked emergency exit at Hanau’s Arena Bar, the attacker's home, and the cell where Oury Jalloh was burned in police custody in Dessau. Utilizing Forensic Architecture's methodologies, the exhibition explores the intersection of architecture and justice, contributing to public discourse on truth-seeking and accountability. By contextualizing anti-migrant violence and institutional negligence in both Germany and Turkey, it investigates memory, justice, and resistance through spatial representation.
The article evaluates the curatorial approach and spatial organization of the exhibition while emphasizing the need to challenge anthropocentric perspectives. Some of the featured works explore urban animal life, human dominance over nature, and speculative approaches to how technology could transform interspecies relationships. The discussion also connects these themes to Istanbul’s ecological structure, its interactions with non-human species, and recent urban transformations.
By critiquing human-centered notions of solidarity, the exhibition encourages reflections on how cohabitation with other species can be reimagined. It not only presents artistic works but also establishes an interdisciplinary discourse, raising new questions about interspecies solidarity in urban spaces.
This article examines Istanbul's queer nightlife as a space of resistance and self-expression amid political and social restrictions over the past two decades. The night offers a refuge from oppressive realities, creating a dynamic site for collective solidarity and identity formation. Istanbul’s nightlife, particularly for queer communities, is shaped by historical transformations, socio-political shifts, and economic pressures, yet continues to evolve as a space of defiance and resilience.
The article traces the history of Istanbul’s nightlife, from its Westernization in the 19th century to its commercialized club scene and underground movements today. It highlights the challenges posed by neoliberal urban policies, restrictive government interventions, and the diminishing number of queer-friendly spaces. Despite these obstacles, queer initiatives and collectives such as Queerwaves, Sirän, and XSM Recordings have emerged, fostering safer spaces and promoting community solidarity through music, art, and performance.
Beyoğlu, long the heart of Istanbul’s nightlife, remains a contested space where political struggles and urban transformations unfold. The authors explore how recent political changes, including opposition party victories in local elections, might impact queer nightlife. They also discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crises, and restrictive policies on nightlife venues, forcing many to shut down or adapt.
Through interviews with artists, activists, and nightlife organizers, the article sheds light on how Istanbul’s queer nightlife continues to serve as a battleground for freedom, where marginalized communities reclaim space, build resilience, and challenge dominant power structures. The discussion extends to the potential for queer nightlife to shape daytime cultural visibility, fostering broader social acceptance and solidarity.
[1]Basılı veya dijital mecra olabilir, üretim metoduna göre değişebilir.
Book Sections by Yelta Köm
Arredemento Mimarlık by Yelta Köm
Istanbul Art News by Yelta Köm
yeniden ele alıyor. Plankton Project de geçtiğimiz yıllarda özellikle Taşkışla etrafında gelişen, 2000’li yılların başından beri çoğalan mimarlık gruplarından biri...
Articles by Yelta Köm