Informal settlements have emerged as a significant feature of urban landscapes globally, particularly in developing countries. Gecekondu, originating in the 1940s concurrent with Türkiye’s industrialization, continues to endure as a prominent form of informal settlement. The perception and associations surrounding gecekondu have evolved in parallel with Turkey’s socio-political environment.
In this piece, İdil uses a slide projector in an attempt to document the subject of gecekondu from a designer’s point of view. In the slideshow pictures from Gülsuyu, a gecekondu neighborhood, and various quotes from videos, newspapers, online forums, and interviews regarding the topic of gecekondu are used to create a narrative. The slideshow begins with zoomed-out images and quotes from the third-person perspective. Gradually the images become more detailed, and the quotes from the first-person perspective, highlighting gecekondu settlers’ personal statements. Through this transition of perspective within the slides, İdil tries to capture gecekondu from different angles. The brochures next to the pedestal can be used as a map to navigate through the slideshow, as it presents all the sources and descriptions of the slides.