Skin is Holy, 2022
Video Performance
Diren Demir
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Influenced by Allen Ginsberg’s precious work “Howl”, Diren questions the themes of “Holyness” and “Body” through this poem by writing the word “Holy” on their own skin.
This act is accompanied by repetitive sounds where Diren turns the word “Holy” into a mantra and carries their mental process to the experience of “ecstasy” through this word used by Ginsberg. Mantraing any word over and over is an ancient technique to stop the existing functioning of the mind and gain deep experiences in consciousness. By choosing the word “Holy” on this path, Diren tries to connect with the pioneers of queer literature and explores the concept of “Holyness” from this deep state of consciousness.
Pencil strokes drawn on the body question body autonomy and hedonism. Performance aims to contrasts with worldviews that leave the pleasures/experiences of the body “out of holiness”.
Diren Demir 