Parroting The Parrot

In Parroting The Parrot Caner follows the story of Cem Sultan, an Ottoman prince exiled in Europe in the late 1400s, accompanied by his parrot. While mainstream narratives generally portray historical figures as true heroes, this project reimagines Cem as an antihero, challenging traditional depictions of history.

In Caner’s new video, the main character becomes Cem’s parrot, who is there to guide and accompany him during the years away from home. In a playful way, the parrot’s perspective shows us how entertainment can help maintain the way history is told.  Through its lens, the project delves into storytelling’s complexities and the risks of reinforcing singular perspectives. It also makes us wonder if alternative voices can offer new ways of understanding the past and question the ways in which history is constructed and circulated in our time.

Much of the exhibition is inspired by historical artefacts, such as The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries housed at the Musée de Cluny in Paris. Featuring crescent moon motifs associated with the Muslim world, these tapestries serve as a visual anchor for the project’s blending of myth and reality. Combining true facts and fiction, Caner’s work challenges dominant recounts of history and invites us to reconsider what influences our understanding of the past.