The Axis Mundi exhibition, the result of Yasemin Sabuncu’s 2023 SALA Solo Photographic Art Prize win, was created in collaboration with Atkins Pro Lab, the Centre for Creative Photography, and praxis ARTSPACE. What makes the body of work particularly captivating is that it was created entirely on an iPhone, a deliberate choice that ties directly to its central themes: social media, the selfie phenomenon, and the beauty standards inherent in these mediums.
Sabuncu’s multidisciplinary background – encompassing writing, directing, acting and visual arts – infuses Axis Mundi with a rich complexity. Her previous work delves into themes of belonging and identity, and here, she continues that exploration by navigating the multifaceted world of social media, juxtaposing its individualistic, ephemeral nature with more communal, traditional cultural practices.
The exhibition’s techniques and themes are innovative and introspective, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own relationships with technology and the worlds that exist within them.
Yasemin Sabuncu, Mirror, Mirror, 2024, photographic print, 21 x 28cm.
These themes are embedded directly into the techniques; with all of the images being taken on a phone, the only illumination of each scene comes from the light of the device’s glowing screen. The choice to use minimal lighting creates an eerie, almost otherworldly atmosphere, where glitches and distortions emphasise the fragmented nature of digital identities. Axis Mundi is a commentary on hyper-individualism, the commodification of beauty in the digital age, and the disconnection from reality that social media can foster.
Walking through the exhibition feels like a journey, from the communal nature of traditional cultures to the isolating, often lonely, realms of the online environment. The installation first invites visitors into an altar-like space with the work Archetype, displayed surrounded by richly detailed fabrics, cushions, and rugs. This comforting communal area contrasts sharply with the images positioned behind it such as Drop in the ocean, Fragmentation and Multiverse, which depict the solitary act of scrolling through a phone.
In one particularly poignant moment during my visit, I found myself subconsciously reaching for my phone, drawn into the habitual act of scrolling Marketplace, disconnecting me from my physical reality. The exhibition cleverly mirrors this experience, with images becoming increasingly distorted as you progress through the space, reflecting how digital content can distort our perceptions and disconnect us from reality – even if we aren’t consciously choosing to do so.
An Axis Mundi installation view featuring Yasemin Sabuncu’s Archetype. Photo: Tamika Couedor
The exhibition features a large projection, Ouroboros infinite scroll, intended to mimic the act of scrolling through social media. However, the communal nature of the viewing space feels at odds with the personal, isolated experience of using a phone. Despite this slight dissonance, the projection effectively contributes to the overarching narrative of Axis Mundi: the tension between communal culture and individual isolation in the digital age.
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An eerie, pitch-black Discovery Room is positioned at the back of the gallery, creating an intimate or perhaps isolating experience. Upon entering the dark room, viewers are forced to use their phone torch for visual guidance. The light creates a sense of solitude as you view the photos in the space, emphasising the isolation, and perhaps shame, that often accompanies our digital habits, as you explore the images alone in the dark.
Yasemin Sabuncu’s Axis Mundi is not just a photography exhibition; it’s a deep, introspective look at how digital culture shapes our perceptions of beauty, identity, and community. As a finalist for the 2024 Don Dunstan Foundation Award, Sabuncu’s work is a must-see.
Yasemin Sabuncu, Ghost in the Machine, photographic print, 67 x 90cm.
Axis Mundi is at praxis ARTSPACE until September 14. It is showing alongside works by Caitlin Mohr and Dan Withey.
Brooke Ferguson, an emerging visual artist and arts worker, is the 6th recipient of the Helpmann Academy InReview Mentorship. She is working with experienced visual arts writer Jane Llewellyn to write a series of articles for publication in InReview.
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