Critical approaches to hegemonic space in contemporary artpractices

This research examines how hegemonic spaces are used as a critical element in contemporary art and the theoretical foundations of this usage. The study analyzes the totalitarian structure of modern urban spaces on the individual within the framework of Michel Foucault's powerspace relationship, Henri Lefebvre's concept of "The Production of Space," and Antonio Gramsci's hegemony theory. This research reveals that space is not merely a physical construct, but rather an ideological domain where social relations and power structures are continuously reproduced. Urban spaces, through hegemonic architecture, systematically restrict individual freedoms by enclosing them within invisible boundaries. In this context, the study explores the intersection of hegemony and space, analyzing how this relationship is reflected in art. While classical art depicted space as an idealized representation shaped by dominant perspectives, modern and contemporary art began to question this order, transforming space into a critical and malleable element. Through installations, performance art, and site-specific practices, artists expose hegemonic structures and aim to transform the viewer from a passive observer into an active participant. Thus, space in art is redefined as both a conceptual and formal tool. In the application section of the study, a visual critique of hegemonic space was realized through a nine-piece series. Labyrinthine architectural arrangements offer a metaphorical narrative of how human will be controlled. The first parts of the series visualize the construction of hegemonic space, the middle parts represent the intensification of the system, and the final parts depict dissolution and lines of flight. As a result of the research, it has been determined that contemporary art has the potential to make visible the invisible mechanisms of domination of spatial hegemony, and that the artist can function as a designer of resistance surfaces. The works invite the viewer to develop a more conscious and questioning perspective towards the spaces they inhabit.