A devastating earthquake hit Turkey in 1999. Nearly 20,000 people died beneath the collapsed buildings. This disaster was due to a great extent to corruption and bribery. In Avcilar, a suburb of Istanbul, 4000 people were killed. Building companies used cheap and unsuitable concrete to build the skyscrapers in Avcilar.

My work DEPREM/EARTHQUAKE is based on a CNN report from Golcuk, Turkey: A rescue operation was under way after rescuers heard signs of life under the rubble, more than five days after the earthquake (in Turkish: deprem) hit Turkey. The rescue scene has gone very quiet as the rescue workers try to listen for some sign of life from beneath the rubble. It is a very difficult operation, because the rubble could continue to collapse.

Gerald Castle, the reporter standing by on scene is giving available information (he whispers in order not to disturb the work of the rescue team): “It would be nothing short of a miracle if someone is brought out alive …“

The conversation between the reporters is split up between two different stereo channels. The reporter working at the CNN headquarters is asking questions on the right channel. The embedded reporter is giving information on the left channel.The original visual part of the CNN feature has been replaced by stills of Istanbul. The pictures were taken right after the earthquake. They focus on people busy at a cash dispenser at Istiklâl Caddesi, normally one of the most popular streets in town.

DV film, 3 min 20 s, stereo, English. Size of projection area variable.

Screening at the 10th Biennial of the Moving Image, Geneva in November 2003

Film projection with 24 seconds of floodlights switching on and off (loop)DV film, 3 min 20 s, stereo, projection area 140 x 105 cm, CRT video projection unit, 1 amplifier, 2 speakers, 1 DVD player, 3 floodlights, 1 DMX controller controlling film projection and floodlights, wood, rabbit-proof fence, white tape, 6 sandbags, lee foil