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Dear Guest:

This page is a collection of exchanges during the period of three months in quarantine, between the two of us. The exchanges consist of letters, audio tales, object manipulations, presents, photographs, and for no particular reason dry plants and seeds. We came up with a method of getting to know each other without talking or digital contact; our doorsteps became the spot for exchange. We played with working in an analog form and collecting audios in USB that entered our homes each time. We experienced digging within ourselves and telling each other personal stories, listening, and making something instead of responding with words. This page works as a peek into our communication during this time of our shared intimacy. We invite you to tour through our exchanges.

Best,
Andrea and Doga

I’ve searched a way of making or starting a blanket, but all of the techniques seemed really constructing and not necessarily related to the feeling I got from reading Andrea’s letter. Instead, I decided to start making a yarn that could later be used for a blanket or something else. I used 2 different pieces of old cloth for the yarn, 2 strips from an earthy color and 1 strip from white fabric. The fabrics are actually really old; I brought them from Turkey, they were my mum’s from the time when she used to make intricate designs on them using paint. I felt that Andrea’s letter of remembering a place from the past, a place with nature and magic seem to parallel with them, they also remind me of a time in the past, when I was a child and was amazed by my mum’s talent. There are 3 strips of fabric, representing the 3 times Andrea was at the place she wrote about. I thought braiding them was a nice way of starting this project; something to connect with both me and Andrea. -Do?a

I found it hard to not write to you after reading your letter, and I appreciated a lot you opening up to me. I'm currently trying to find a store to buy ground and pots to grow the seeds you gave me. I hope that my letter also acts as a response by telling you my own feelings.
For the object, I had to overthink a lot, but I decided to pick up the leaves that were dead from my plants and preserve them in our object, I know is a small addition but thought it could bring a different life to this leaves which I would normally take out.- Andrea

Andrea’s letter, for me, hit a very special point. I too am a perfectionist though I think my actions that spring from that is quite opposite to Andrea’s. When she pushes herself to the point of breaking to satisfy that need, I tend to slink down, stop even getting out of bed, and spiral into a depression. The contrast that forms out of the same basic feeling was really surprising for me to read.   With this week’s addition to the object, I did something I wasn’t really comfortable with.

My first instinct was to continue what had Andrea started and sew the remaining yarn around the plastic paneling to create a solid structure. While sewing, I changed my mind millions of times and started getting unsure because I haven’t added anything new to the object this week, I only altered what the object already was. I did this because I wanted to go with my gut and don’t think about the “failing”, or disappointing. I don’t know if what I did is enough, but the confrontation and back-and-forth I had in my head during the process made me feel like it was the correct decision after reading Andrea’s letter.- Do?a

I'm starting to realize we might be quite similar in some ways…. I get what you mean, I'm scared of failure to, and I really resonate with the idea that if I don’t start then there is no way to fail, I get that. And sometimes that leads me to postpone things, because not starting means not failing...
I added a small embroidery since it is something I’m starting to get into, it calms me down and is become a fun thing to do these days. The reason why I'm adding it is that I started doing it with the sole purpose of just doing, failing, making without thinking, and it has truly calmed me down these days. I know I’m not the best at it, but that makes it fun, I do it my own way. Maybe this spirit is something we both need.- Andrea

This time my addition is not that related to Andrea’s latest letter but more of a reflection of the whole process. I wanted to add something from Turkey because with every letter we shared, we always talk about our motherlands, and the stories carried by it. I was rummaging through one of my craft boxes and I found this doily I brought from Istanbul when I moved to the NL. My grandma made it at some time for my mum I think, but my mum is not really a doily person so it was forgotten in a corner. I am also not a doily person but i thought I could use it for something at some point, maybe dye it or paint it? So I cut the outer circle of it to add onto our object. I don’t know. More than the aesthetic, I wanted to include something my grandma made onto this weird project of ours. -Do?a