Does art equal a handbag? Where am I within it? What happens when art is printed on a handbag? When Mona Lisa’s iconic smile shines in the window of a luxury store, where does the essence of art disappear to? Does art equal a handbag? Yes, it does. But does this represent the value of art, or the power of consumer culture? This work is a questioning of the commodification of art, the transformation of iconic works into commercial objects. Mona Lisa was once a symbol of humanity’s creativity and aesthetic pursuit. Now, she sits on a handbag, displayed in shop windows as part of luxury consumption. But are those who buy this bag purchasing art, or are they buying status? The mirror in the window deepens this inquiry. In the mirror, there’s me. There’s the handbag. There’s Mona Lisa. But the real question is: Where do I stand in this system? Am I a consumer, an artist, or an observer critically examining this cycle? The mirror reflects not only me but also the distorted relationship between art and consumer culture. This photograph reveals how art is turned into a commodity, how it becomes a status symbol. Mona Lisa’s smile no longer symbolizes the freedom of art but rather the triumph of capitalism. Are those who buy this bag carrying the value of art, or the power of the brand? This statement questions how art is captured by consumer culture, how it is transformed into a marketing tool. While art adorns shop windows on the surface of a handbag, where does its true value go? Does art equal a handbag? Yes, it does. But this is not the victory of art—it is the victory of the system. As I look at myself in the mirror in this photograph, I question whether I am part of this system. Where am I in it? Either in it or out of it… Like all of us… (Yaşayan Kadınlar, Fotoistanbul 2017, Ortaköy Kültür Merkezi, 02.10.2017)