Mehmet Yıldırım
a mountain village above Trabzon, Turkey
Mehmet Yıldırım, 59, operates the heavy crane at a scrapyard in the mountains above Trabzon. He has a unique tradition of planting a tree for each person he's outlived, ensuring their memory persists in the landscape. At night, Mehmet worries about the durability of his crane and the survival of the saplings.
About
Obsession
Heat shimmer above the road
Voice
Slow, precise, with a shimmer
Artistic Medium
recycled metallic sculptures
Technique
welding and twisting metal
Influences
afternoons checking saplings, the shimmering heat above the road, strong tea sipped at the scrapyard
Materials
rusted truck parts, old sprockets, used metal cables
Scale
lifetime-sized or smaller
Selected 0 times
Commissioned Works
"Galactic Daydreams"
August 22, 2026 · playful