Cem Sonel

The binary number system uses 2 as its base. In this system, only the digits "0" and "1" are used. Every "0" or "1" in the binary number system is defined as a BIT (Binary Digit). The building blocks, or "cells," of almost all computers in the world consist of the digits 1 and 0. This means that computers perceive everything the user wants to convey to them entirely in their own language, which is in the form of 1s and 0s. This structure, made up of micro-transistors, can be thought of as small lamps that enable the functioning of our computers. The situation when this small lamp is on is represented by "1," and when it is off, it is represented by "0." In the decimal number system we use in daily life, the zero represents the absence of a certain quality. "None" is a pronoun that literally means the absence of existence. In other words, it refers to the absence of something, but in an absolute sense. Nothingness or non-existence refers to a situation where the pronoun "none" is dominant. In a non-philosophical and everyday usage, the words "none" or "nothing" express a lack of something in existence. As a definition, the state of non-existence or deficiency in existence is stated as the absence of being. In this sense, it is understood as a philosophical category and is used to express non-being or nothingness. Another meaning of "none" in philosophy can be defined as the state of non-being that occurs due to the disappearance of conditions and attributes in reality because of denial or negation. This non-being is expressed as relative nothingness. Nihilism is a doctrine that emerges as a result of rejecting everything, all truths, and all values, based on these meanings. It approaches every form of existence with doubt, even denying it. The artistic production that emerged as a result of Cem Sonel's very personal questioning and others like it has been fed from the streets since its beginning. Beneath this form of expression, which is nourished by and exists in the street, lies a rebellion against the situation where all kinds of thought are determined and directed by a central authority. From graffiti-based works criticizing consumer culture to upcycling projects, from murals to the Code of Conquer series, Sonel’s works represent the personal conflict he experiences regarding the concepts of existence and non-existence. In his representation, existence and non-existence are not seen as two separate concepts but as concepts that create and nourish each other. According to Sonel's approach, in the binary number system, "1" represents the situation when the lamp is on, and "0" represents the situation when the lamp is off. Therefore, the actual existence of the lamps is more valuable than whether they are open or closed. In today's mindset, where 0 is accepted as nothingness, don’t you think arguing that one and zero are two separate values is not a more conciliatory approach?