Professor Selçuk Artut, PhD, organized the activities for Professor Jimena Arruti at Sabanci University (Istanbul, Turkey) between late May and early June. Some of the activities included:
- A visit to Selçuk Artut's studio in Kadıköy, Istanbul.
- Tour of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Sabanci University.
- Meeting with Prof. Artut and Prof. Onur Yazicigil (current program coordinator).
- Opening of the Akbank 40: Contemporary Artists exhibition in Taksim, Istanbul.
- Teaching assistance for projects in the Physical Computing and Interactive Audio courses taught by Prof. Artut.
- Teaching assistance for the "Creative Coding on Geometrical Patterns" workshop, open to the general public.
- Teaching assistant for Algorave, featuring a performance by the live coding group RAW, led by Prof. Artut.
Jimena Arruti, a professor in the Bachelor’s Program in Design, Art, and Technology, took a trip to Istanbul following Selçuk Artut’s visit to ORT in May. “We focus on similar areas (art and technology, music) and got along very well when we spent time together during his stay,” the professor said. “The department decided that my trip would be a good opportunity to strengthen that bond, learn from his artistic and teaching experience, and deepen ORT’s relationship with Sabanci University. Selçuk was enthusiastic about the idea, and we were able to pull everything together in record time.”
Like Artur’s visit to Uruguay, Arruti’s trip to Turkey was made possible by Erasmus+, a European Union program dedicated to promoting and supporting education, training, youth, and sports. The International Academic Mobility action line promotes, through bilateral projects, academic mobility activities between higher education institutions in European countries and the rest of the world, for students as well as academic and administrative staff.
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What activities did you participate in?
During the exchange, I participated in classes for the Physical Computing and Interactive Sound courses, which are part of the Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design degree program, advising students on their final projects.
In addition, while on campus, I spoke with Selçuk and Onur Yazicigil, the current program coordinator, and learned more about how the university operates academically and how the program is organized.
Fortunately, I also had the chance to explore the city, which is absolutely beautiful and rich in history, where different cultures converge and intermingle. I got a taste of that cosmopolitan Istanbul, both through museums and exhibitions and by meeting local people and sampling traditional cuisine.
Last night I had the chance to attend an Algorave (an event featuring electronic music and visual performances created using code), where I saw a performance by the duo RAW, of which Selçuk is a member. These events are booming across Europe but haven’t made it to Uruguay yet, so it was a fascinating experience.
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What was your impression of Sabanci University?
It is a top-tier university in every sense of the word. Not only is it highly regarded academically, but it also has policies and resources that facilitate research and learning. Because it is a massive campus where all the schools are located, there is greater interaction and collaboration between disciplines, which is clearly reflected in the students’ social lives and their collaborative projects.
In addition, since they have the option of living on campus, students have access to the university’s resources at all times. In particular, I believe this is a major advantage for artists because it allows each person to pace their creative process according to their own schedule.
From what I could see, the university culture fosters a sense of great freedom and promotes internationalization, which further enriches the experience.
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How do interactive art, sound art, and generative programming come together there?
I noticed many similarities with how we work in our program, and I also came away with new ideas to incorporate into my courses. It was amazing to see how similar the students’ profiles are—from their behaviors and interests to their work styles. The biggest difference I found is that students from other programs also participate in the courses. This mix brings a lot of freshness to the creative process.
At the national level, the tech-related arts sector has been developing for longer and benefits from government and corporate support. Obviously, having a larger population has its advantages in that regard, but I believe Uruguay is moving in that direction.
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After your visit, how do you think ORT is positioned in these areas?
Although the Design, Art, and Technology program is still in its infancy, I believe we’re off to a strong start and have everything we need to keep improving. I think it’s essential for the faculty to have access to these experiences so we can continue to make progress in that direction.
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Do you find moments of sharing to be enriching?
Absolutely. You don’t just learn during activities, but all the time—even when chatting with people you pass on the street or taking in a new landscape. Experiencing new things always has a huge impact, and immersing yourself in a different culture has profound and unpredictable effects. I think it also allows you to see yourself from other perspectives, shifting your viewpoint a bit, and that’s where you gain a lot in terms of self-awareness. It revitalizes, energizes, and motivates you greatly.
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Would you recommend an exchange program at Sabanci University to your students?
Of course. I recommend any exchange program you might consider, but I think Sabanci would be an excellent choice.
This activity is part of the International Academic Mobility project being carried out jointly by Universidad ORT Uruguay Sabanci University. The visit was organized by the School of Communication and Design and the Office of Academic Projects at Universidad ORT Uruguay.
