Leftovers 1983

Ayse Erkmen made these ‘Leftovers’ from fragments of stone, presented on wire hangers. At first glance, these humble materials may seem far removed from the polished surfaces we often associate with fine art. But that’s precisely the point. Erkmen is keenly aware of how materials accrue significance through the ways they are handled, and how artistic gestures can reshape our understanding of value. By rescuing these discarded pieces, she draws our attention to the usually overlooked labor involved in quarrying and shaping stone. Each fragment, with its unique texture, color, and form, tells a story of extraction, production, and consumption. These are the offcuts, the parts deemed unworthy of grand architectural projects or monumental sculptures. Yet, Erkmen elevates them, giving them a new life and prompting us to reconsider the relationship between waste, labor, and artistic creation.