Kutlug Ataman

Women Who Wear Wigs

January 18 - February 28, 2001
540 West 26th Street

Press Release

Lehmann Maupin is pleased to announce an exhibition by video artist and filmmaker Kutlug Ataman. This will be Ataman's first exhibition in New York.

Born in Istanbul, Ataman was educated in the United States and now lives in London. His films have received numerous awards at international film festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival and the Istanbul International Film Festival, and his video work was included in the 1999 Venice Biennale.

Kutlug Ataman's exhibit at Lehmann Maupin consists of Women Who Wear Wigs, a four-screen video installation of interviews with four Turkish women who discuss the reasons they have had to wear wigs. One of Ataman's subjects is a woman targeted as a terrorist who was forced to live her life in disguise. Another is a well-known journalist who wears a wig to conceal the hair loss that resulted from chemotherapy. The third, her identity protected by a completely black screen, is a devout Muslim student banned from wearing her traditional headscarf in the classroom because of Turkey's secular laws. And the fourth is a transsexual prostitute and political activist who had her head shaved when arrested by the police.

While each of the individual stories is presented in a straightforward, documentary-like format, the viewer also has a role in creating meaning for the work. With the four screens lined up side by side, the viewer can move back and forth between the projections creating infinite viewing combinations. Through this movement between stories it becomes evident that while each of the women has a different and compelling personal situation, their experiences are connected by broader issues involving gender, identity, and oppression.

Artists in this exhibition

• Kutlug Ataman

Press

• New York Times Download PDF (8 K)

Exhibition Works

Women Who Wear Wigs , 1999 4 DVDs, each approximately one hour four-screen video installation with variable dimensions Edition of 5 LM2870


Women Who Wear Wigs , 1999 4 DVDs, each approximately one hour four-screen video installation with variable dimensions Edition of 5 LM2870


Women Who Wear Wigs , 1999 4 DVDs, each approximately one hour four-screen video installation with variable dimensions Edition of 5 LM2870

Installation Stills

Women Who Wear Wigs , 1999 Installation at Lehmann Maupin 18 January - 28 February 2001 4 DVDs, each approximately one hour four-screen video installation with variable dimensions Edition of 5 LM2870


Women Who Wear Wigs , 1999 Installation at Lehmann Maupin 18 January - 28 February 2001 4 DVDs, each approximately one hour four-screen video installation with variable dimensions Edition of 5 LM2870