i came knowing, i would show up again, 2024

Last week I, Sultan Çoban, had a call with my assistant. I was told that the dress I was supposed to wear for this performance was not yet ready. It was custom-made and was meant to be shipped from Paris later that month. I asked: “How come? We should have received it before the performance.” The answer: “We’ve got the other dress for emergencies.” It wasn’t clear to me what emergency we were having. I said: “Months ago I was promised a custom-made dress and now you’re telling me it isn’t finished. I know how complicated it is to design and make a dress, but we had an agreement.” And later I added: “Alright then, I’ll wear something else.” For this performance I will be wearing the outfit of the singer Sultan Çoban. Today I am here only as Sultan. In this performance I do not remain in a fiction of my own making.