United Kingdom
Cengizhan Sen (b.1998) is a London-based writer, producer, researcher and artist.
A Goldsmiths, University of London graduate in BA Media and Communications, Cengizhan established a career in the creative sector. He played a pivotal role at the late Alexander McQueen’s Sarabande Foundation, supporting emerging creative talent and working with innovative brands such as AUROBOROS and a diverse range of creative practitioners.
His diagnosis with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma inspired a writing practice exploring sickness, identity, their associative traumas and healing. He is currently supporting Trekstock as an ambassador and cancer advocate.
Bridging narratives between creativity and health, Cengizhan established The Poorly Project - an editorial and curatorial initiative dedicated to creative practitioners contributing to the topics of sickness, health and well-being.
Cengizhan is open to partnerships and collaborations with arts institutions, publications, curatorial programmes and philanthropic bodies dedicated to the aforementioned areas.
What does it mean to be 'renewed' or 'rebirthed'? What does 'recovery' truly entail? These enigmatic concepts are the creative tenants for artist Sarah Davis' practice. Raising its inquisitive lens, The Poorly Project had the pleasure of investigating Sarah's creative universe and how, eight years
Writings and Interviews
"For the majority, curing sickness hands control to biomedicine’s methods. Folk medicine can become viewed as a source of reclamation. A practice of using what we know and have in the most effective way possible."
Cengizhan Sen's photodocumentative series 'ROOT(S)' published in Balkanism's first issue 'Diversity as Strength'. The annual publication is dedicated to exploring Balkan culture, history, society, and identity.
Being diagnosed with cancer at 24 was something Cengi Sen had prepared himself for, after discovering he had swollen lymph nodes. But he wasn’t prepared for the “cancer ghosting” from his friends that followed.
"When cancer hits, the queer spirit returns fire. We begin to understand that the only thing that cancer will not and cannot steal is our intrinsic queerness" comments Cengizhan Sen
Cengizhan Sen discusses the nuances and importance of establishing a cancer-focused community, and how charities such as Flynne's Barn serve fundamental roles in their formation.
"Cancer poses many questions - ghosting and friendship terminations should not be conundrums that need solving"
Events
In celebration of Balkanism's publication launch for Issue 1 'Diversity as Strength', Cengizhan Sen led a panel talk focusing on the diversification of Balkan narratives through art, activism and academia.