Aslı Çavuşoğlu, Murder in Three Acts (2012)
Murder in Three Acts was inspired by the representation of art in popular media, particularly in television crime series in which the artworks don’t solely exist in the background of the show, but become a vital part of the script: exhibitions function as crime scenes and art works act as murder weapons.
Imagining the decision-making process behind these props based on representation of forensics science and art, Murder in Three Acts was structured as a real-time performance involving a professional crime drama crew and actors, in which an ‘exhibition’ scene from a presumed crime drama is being discussed and rehearsed transparently during the opening hours of Frieze London. The project drew links between the role of evidence in a televised crime scene and real artworks justifying themselves in the sphere of speculation and invited special ‘advisors’ and visitors to participate in discussions with the professional cast and crew.
Çavuşoğlu’s project was created in partnership with Delfina Foundation’s artist-in-residency programme and with thanks to cub-ar. The project was produced in association with Manifold Projects.
Aslı Çavuşoğlu (b. 1982) is a Turkish artist based in Istanbul. Recent group exhibitions include: 11th Baltic Triennial of International Art, Tallin; Performa11, New York (both 2011); ‘Transient Spaces – The Tourist Syndrome’, Neue Gesellschaft für Bildende Kunst, Berlin; ‘Fantasy & Island’, FRAC Corse, Corsica (both 2010); ‘This Place You See Has No Size At All’, Kadist Art Foundation, Paris, and ‘Everyday Challengers’, Hisk, Gent, (both 2009).
