We come to you today not with something to warm the heart, but with a performance announcement that may shake us by forcing a confrontation with ourselves. Eira—one of Portugal’s most established art structures—and Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası—one of Turkey’s most distinctive contemporary art collectives—bring their joint project “Taşıdıklarımız” (“The Things We Carry”) to Arter’s performance space Karbon on Friday, 30 January at 20:30.
The Sociology of Burdens and Nomadism
Directed by Portuguese choreographer Francisco Camacho, this performance opens a discussion on nomadism, wandering, and the most fundamental struggle for “survival” through the burdens of everyday objects. The creative team—rooted in two different port cities (Lisbon and Istanbul)—brings the stage to life through the physical and sonic performances of Leyla Postalcıoğlu, Mihran Tomasyan, and Berke Can Özcan. With lighting design by Cem Yılmazer, this single-act journey lasts approximately 75 minutes and draws the audience into a story of vertical and horizontal displacement.
At the heart of the performance lies a fundamental question that concerns all of us in modern life: the invisible burdens we carry on our backs. The artists share this deep inquiry on stage:
“Are the things we carry actually the things we need—the things that keep us alive? Or are they the things we accept without question, the things that allow us to continue living an exemplary life? Do we keep repeating resultless movements without noticing how arbitrary they are, or do we repeat them because we know the emptiness will slowly seep in if we stop?”
Visit Plan and Practical Information
Thanks to the institutional sponsorship of Arter by Tüpraş, all visitors under 24 have free entry to all exhibitions every day, and Thursdays extend this opportunity to visitors of all ages. However, performance events such as “Taşıdıklarımız” require special tickets, so I recommend reserving your place early.
Date and Time: Friday, 30 January 2026, 20:30
Venue: Arter, Karbon (Dolapdere)
Tickets: Arter Box Office, Biletix, or Mobilet
Transportation: You can easily reach Arter with the free shuttle services departing from Taksim and Tepebaşı.
Visiting Arter’s library after the performance or discussing this intense experience with friends at Bistro by Divan would be a wonderful way to round off the evening.
