Nasan Tur: Elevation - Become part of a collective archive of emotions!

The artist Nasan Tur focuses on church pews as historical and symbolic objects in his installation Elevation, developed as part of Manifesta 16 Ruhr, and invites people from across the Ruhr Area to contribute their thoughts and stories.

For centuries, church pews have been places of quiet listening. Nasan Tur breaks with this traditional hierarchy and gives voice to the community: he transforms the wooden benches into a collective archive of emotions by engraving and carving the collected voices of people from the Ruhr Area into their surfaces, while also fundamentally altering their usual placement within the space.

Everyone in the Ruhr Area is invited to participate anonymously by sharing their thoughts — hopes, concerns, wounds, ideas, wishes and everyday observations. In this way, an honest snapshot emerges of what moves people, beyond religious or institutional frameworks.

Participation is anonymous: access the submission form here.

Nasan Tur’s work Elevation will be on view as part of Manifesta 16 Ruhr from 21 June to 4 October at St. Gertrud Church in Essen.