Ali Kazma's video series 'Obstructions' and his photographic archive of European libraries

Ali Kazma, representing the Turkish Pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale with his video series 'Résistance', explores representations of human activity. His ongoing series 'Obstructions' (since 2005) documents precise, repetitive gestures—from a dancer to a neurosurgeon—to show how humans temporarily triumph over time and entropy. Kazma's videos, shot over hours and edited to 10–15 minutes, avoid sociological commentary, focusing instead on rhythm and process. In 'Résistance', he shifts to how social, scientific, and cultural forces condition the body, filming in operating rooms, tattoo parlors, and genetic research centers across multiple countries. This series adopts a more narrative, wide-shot approach compared to earlier works. Additionally, Kazma has been photographing European libraries for years, amassing thousands of images of book-making tools, presses, bindings, and shelves. This photographic archive, to be shown at Galeri Nev in Istanbul in September–October 2013, explores the tension between materiality and immaterial content, echoing Adorno's idea that books' exteriors speak as much as their interiors. Kazma's work is described as Foucauldian, examining how forces like surveillance and resistance constitute the body. The artist's recent solo exhibitions include shows at Francesca Minini Gallery (Milan), Qbox Gallery (Athens), Hirshhorn Museum (Washington), and Musée de Bibracte (Morvan, until Nov 11, 2013).