Defne Özdoğan is a scenographer and designer based in Istanbul, Turkey, with a background in architecture. Her work spans across theatre, opera, dance, musicals, film, and fashion, where she combines spatial design with storytelling to create immersive environments.

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We Were Never Meant To Survive

Role Set Designer, Curator
Concept and Direction Ülkü Çağlayan
Sound Design & Musical Composition Ayşe Zeynep Hatipoğlu & Metehan Köktürk
Costume Design Clara Jedrecy
Cinematography & Editing Ela Kazdal & Gözde Karaoğlan
Performers Elif Cemre Özkan, Gupse Esila Ay, Maya Ela Uyğun, Mirel Ergeneli, Zeynep Sinan

We Were Never Meant to Survive is a performance art video that envisions a speculative world where humanity confronts mortality through collective resilience. In this piece, a group of non-trained performers mentally and emotionally prepare for death by re-enacting a shared scenario. The performance is accompanied by a soundscape blending electronic elements with acoustic instruments, reflecting the imminent state of being.

As the set designer, Defne Özdogan collaborated closely with director Ülkü Çağlayan to create immersive environments that embody the project's themes. The sets were thoughtfully designed to complement the performers' experiences, enhancing the narrative's emotional depth.

We Were Never Meant To Survive

Role Set Designer, Curator
Concept and Direction Ülkü Çağlayan
Sound Design & Musical Composition Ayşe Zeynep Hatipoğlu & Metehan Köktürk
Costume Design Clara Jedrecy
Cinematography & Editing Ela Kazdal & Gözde Karaoğlan
Performers Elif Cemre Özkan, Gupse Esila Ay, Maya Ela Uyğun, Mirel Ergeneli, Zeynep Sinan