caner teker Discusses 'KIRKPINAR' and Turkish Oil Wrestling at Berlin Art Week
At Berlin Art Week, caner teker showcased 'KIRKPINAR,' a performance that reinterprets Yağlı Güreş, the traditional Turkish oil wrestling event of Kırkpınar, which has taken place in Edirne since 1361. The piece features two performers in a contest that excludes the final move, focusing instead on a display of endurance. Teker's experience as part of the diaspora has shaped their examination of the sport's inherent contradictions. Initially introduced in 2020, the work has evolved from theaters to museums and is now part of the Museum Ostwall collection. Teker's choreography highlights themes of balance and trust, making a political statement by eliminating the pursuit of victory. Upcoming performances include 'b2b / nothing new' on Oct. 23, 2026, in Berlin, and 'Kirkpinar' on Nov. 7 and 14, 2026, in Dortmund, Germany.
Key facts
- caner teker's 'KIRKPINAR' was performed at silent green during Berlin Art Week.
- The work draws from Yağlı Güreş, Turkish oil wrestling, and the annual Kırkpınar competition in Edirne, Türkiye, dating to 1361.
- Teker removed the sport's decisive move—a wrestler's back touching the ground—to avoid a fixed outcome.
- The performance has been part of teker's practice since 2020 and is now in the collection of Museum Ostwall.
- Teker collaborated with Valerie Ace and Lou Drago on sound.
- The work will be archived beyond teker's death.
- Upcoming performances: 'b2b / nothing new' on Oct. 23, 2026, at Between Bridges Residency, Berlin; 'Kirkpinar' on Nov. 7 and 14, 2026, at U-Dortmund, Dortmund.
- No public video documentation of the work exists.
Entities
Artists
- caner teker
- Işıl İlkter
- Valerie Ace
- Lou Drago
- Édouard Glissant
- Moses Omeogo
Institutions
- silent green
- Berlin Art Week
- Museum Ostwall
- Transgressive Memory Festival
- Between Bridges Residency
- U-Dortmund
- Berlin Art Link
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Edirne
- Türkiye
- Dortmund