Elif Saydam: Hospitality

Elif Saydam’s exhibition is grounded in a sequence of three paintings: two realized on reclaimed lavatory-stall doors, the third rendered trompe l’oeil style on linen. Notable is the contrast between the crude pragmatism of the doors as toilet dividers and their floral embellishments. Viewers are invited to imagine what lies behind these doors, from a refreshed or scented cubicle to more transgressive acts, like cruising or slacking off. The show’s title is drawn from the door’s symbolism: hospitality (when open), hostility (when closed).