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In Turkey, Turkish Germans are called “Almancı”, or “Deutschländer”. This is the theme of a festival now taking place in Ankara, which will be opened by Nezaket Ekici. In our interview, the Berlin artist speaks about her art, Kreuzberg and her strict upbringing.

Ms Ekici, what is an Almancı?

Ekici: Originally, the word was actually a slur used for Turks living in Germany. It translates as “Germanized” and I always found that a bit deprecatory. It’s got such a negative aftertaste. There is a great deal to gain from being open to another culture while remaining aware of your own origins.

Then why do you think the festival that you will be opening on 7 December in Ankara is called “Almancı – Deutschländer!”?

I think the organizers are using the word ironically. They simply want to show the people in Turkey the breadth of us Turks in Germany. They want to show what “Germanized” actually is; what we do and how we live. However, for me personally it is most important to show that we don’t just absorb German culture and forget the Turkish. I make use – even in my work – of both cultures to create something new from them. If you simply adapt a culture, you lose your identity.

You were born in Turkey and came to Germany in 1973...

...exactly. My father had already arrived in Duisburg as a guest worker in 1970, but then was able to return to his original profession three years later as a teacher. He taught at a school, but entirely in Turkish. Of course, it was a mistake by the government to teach the children of Turkish guest worker families only in their native language. That impedes any integration. I said that to former Federal Minister of the Interior Wolfgang Schäuble during a panel discussion: Germany passed by a great opportunity with that and it will require great efforts now to make up for the mistakes of the past.

Photo gallery: Nezaket Ekici’s performances in recent years

Was it difficult for you to integrate in Germany?

At the beginning, yes, it was. My parents didn’t speak German very well and I didn’t learn it until I went to school. I was also often confronted with xenophobia. In addition, Duisburg had a sort of colony of Turkish families. We lived very isolated, almost like in a Turkish village. My father was very liberal, for example, but the whole environment of Turkish families caused him to bring me up very strictly, too. This is something that I often use as the subject matter of much of my work, as well.

Would you call your work multicultural?

I don’t like the word multicultural at all.

Why?

The word is just used far too often and always has this aftertaste of “foreigner.” I think we’ve long passed that stage. In my opinion, a word such as “international” is a better description for it. Multi-Kulti – that always sounds so folkloristic. Of course, folkloristic elements are important, but we can’t remain stuck on them. The mission of contemporary art is to work with these elements, but to create something brand new from them.

Your exhibition in Ankara bears the title “Origin of Inspiration”. What does this tell us about your work?

I want to show the people in Ankara how my art originates. Basically, I have three sources of inspiration: my cultural background, art history and working with the respective architectural and local circumstances. I will show twelve works in photos and videos and also do a live performance. There will also be a talk with the artist on the day after the opening. I want to get as close to the people as possible.

This is why you will show your performance “Eye for Eye”? You directly interact with the audience in it.

Right. During the performance, I bring visitors onto the stage and we sit across from one another and look into each other’s eyes. The eyes are projected onto big screens. How will people react? What happens if you have to look into the eyes of a stranger? That’s the exciting and intense part of the work and I’m looking forward to showing it in Turkey for the first time. I showed this work recently in Tbilisi and Madrid and the audiences’ reactions were very exciting.

Berlin is one of the central things in your life. What do you find so fascinating about this city?

I have a flat in Kreuzberg, a district full of languages and internationalities. Of course, there are also many Turks here. I find the environment very special and inspiring, but I need to be moving around a lot. My husband – a German by the way – lives in Stuttgart, for example. I travel a lot for my art projects. Maybe that is also a manifestation of the Almancı – my home is nowhere and yet everywhere!

The interview was held by Lena de Boer.