A Mark from Our University at the 29th Theatre Festival: Açık Mülk

Our Theatre Department faculty member Barış Arman’s performance, Açık Mülk, met with audiences at İMÇ between November 13–15 as part of this year’s 29th Istanbul Theatre Festival.

Açık Mülk is a site-specific and participatory performance that explores the past, present, and possible future of İMÇ, one of Istanbul’s iconic symbols of modern architecture. Audiences are taken on an unconventional “open house” tour through the İMÇ corridors with two “real estate agents” as guides; however, the negotiations here are not only about square meters but also about memory, loss, conflict, and desire.

Through a blend of dance, song, monologue, tea rituals, and everyday encounters, the performance involves the audience both as participants, like investors in a presentation, and as witnesses to new stories at every stop. The agents’ language gradually shifts from irony to vulnerability, blurring the boundaries between fiction and reality. The production is the latest work of award-winning director Barış Arman.

In conclusion, Açık Mülk offers a collective experiential space that questions the visible and invisible burdens of living together, remembering, and urban life.

We congratulate Barış Arman and his team on their achievement.