Amber Platform/ Body-Process Arts Association Istanbul

Body-Process Arts Association (BIS) is an Istanbul based initiative that aims to explore artistic forms of expression at the conjunction of the body and the digital process. BIS aims to create an international discussion and production platform in its local on the conjunction of art and technology. The concept of body-process refers to the inevitable relation between the modern human body and technological processes and tools. Starting from the observation that new technologies increasingly manage practical and critical aspects of our lives such as communication, health and security, this concept orients itself to think about the fluid boundaries between body and technology and the consequences of their interaction.
Operating under the name Amber Platform, BIS organises the "amber Art and Technology Festival and Conference" annually to create a platform for exchanges, collaborations and discussions. It also produces international artistic research and creation projects. BIS's long-term objective is to establish a permanent center for research and production.

www.amberplatform.org

Ekmel Ertan received his BSc degree in Electronics / Communication Engineering from the Technical University of Istanbul and his MA degree on Interactive Media Design from Yıldız Technical University. He worked as a design and test engineer on telecommunication systems in Turkey (NETAŞ Northern Telecom - Istanbul), in Germany (ALCATEL SEL- Stuttgart) and in Belgium (ALCATEL BELL Lab. - Antwerp).  After returning to Istanbul, he started a multimedia design company of his own. Since 1999, he has been teaching multimedia / visual communication design at Istanbul Bilgi University, Sabancı University, İstanbul Technical University, and Yıldız Technical University.
Ekmel Ertan has exhibited his photography work at La Mama Gallery ("City and Eye" - 1997) and at The Gallery Marmara-Manhattan ("Alice in Whirling Land"- 2003) in New York and Turkey. He has also exhibited new media installations and co-operative performance works in several local and international venues.
Ertan is the founding member and artistic director of Body-Process Arts Association / Amber Platform. Ertan has been the curator and director of the annual “amber Art and Technology Festival” since its inception in 2007. He is also the initiator of amberConference, the only Science, Technology and Art Conference in Turkey. Currently, Ertan is also working as the site coordinator for several international projects based in Turkey and Europe exploring the connections between art and technology.