Ecem Arslanay

As an Istanbul-based editor, writer, lecturer, architect, and filmmaker, she has directed her architectural focus towards stage design. She taught at Istanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Architecture (2017-2019) and currently teaches at Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Architecture (2021-present). As a Ph.D. candidate in architecture, her research centers on the spatial qualities of the digital museum experience. Serving as the production designer for the feature-length film “The Connected” (2018-ongoing), supported by the Sharjah Art Foundation and Salt, she also wrote, co-directed, and co-produced the short film “The Clocks” (2021). The latter was a finalist in numerous international festivals, won several awards, and participated in various exhibitions and biennials.
An AICA member, she has authored various texts on art, design, architecture, dance, theatre, and cinema for publications such as exhibition catalogues, and contributions to books. Her international contributions include works in Drawing Matter, SEQUITUR (Boston University), and Mousse Publishing. Currently, she is working on a book compiling her selected Turkish-language texts.
Her co-authored essay, “Letter of Authorization to Discuss Late Ottoman Archive Drawings as Operational Images,” was published as a finalist in Drawing Matter, recognized by the Architecture Foundation in the “Architecture and Representation” category. Additionally, she received a grant from CultureCIVIC, a European Union-supported cultural and arts program, for her project “Writing as Queering.” Serving as the publications editor at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum, she has worked on notable artists’ exhibitions such as “David Hockney: The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020,” “Agnes Denes: The Living Pyramid,” and “Hussein Chalayan: Souffleur.”

Ecem will be doing her residency at Can Serrat in August 2024.