PLAY – MURAT PALTA
Artist Murat Palta modernises the art of the miniature in a way unique to him, reinterpreting details from today's popular culture.
Contemporary miniature artist Murat Palta chooses the word “play” for the latest edition of the Sanayi313 Words series.
When was the last time you used this word?
I use it on a daily basis. “Play” is more than a subject that I deal with as content in my work. It’s also a word that defines the person I am today. Adults are inclined to associate the word with either theatre performances or playing video games. Since both have a lot to do with my art, it actually seems inevitable that I use it daily.
How does the word make you feel?
It certainly has a feeling of “escapism.” But it also describes a motivating “space” where I can gather my thoughts. In video games, for instance, there are different dynamics and different approaches to finding solutions to problems. Looking at the different ways designers interpret and depict gaming narratives informs and enriches my artwork.
Can you elaborate on how the word relates to you and your work?
The three are very intertwined, indeed. No matter how much we associate games with children, they have an undeniable impact on the production and shaping o fculture. I once had an exhibition in which I questioned this precise thing. Playing a game requires you to take on a particular role and to conform to a particular set of rules established, arbitrarily, within that particular (in this case, virtual) space. For example, in the real world, boxers are allowed to punch each other in the ring during a match, whereas it’s a crime to punch someone outside the ring.
Can you suggest three more words for our next interview?
Wealth, anger, joy.
