ZEYNEP PEHLİVAN

İzmir- Merve Alagil is one of those who manage to make a radical decision that most of us want to make but don’t dare: one of those who left everything behind and fled the city! Explaining Merve's story simply as “moving away from big, rotten, lost cities to live in a deserted village” will be not right for her efforts in the last four years. After graduating from the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, Merve started working for a company. There, she improved herself, especially in illustration. Later, she worked as a window-dresser. At that time, she made one of the most important decisions of her life. She left her family, job, and comfortable spaces and began to live in Demircili village of İzmir’s Urla district. Merve, who has been living alone in the village for four years, describes her life in the village as, “the period in which I find myself in nature.” Let’s listen to Merve’s story together;

“I was born in Izmir, the city I love very much. In general, I had a very happy childhood. I have always been a person who pays attention to details throughout my life. Even when I was a child, I was playing with lego building blocks and play dough. I used to play with them too much in silence and sometimes my mother got worried about me and she came to my room to check me. Maybe I have had an interest in interior architecture since then. As I dreamed, I started to study at Bilkent University, Department of the Interior Architecture and Environmental Design. After graduating from university, I started working in an architectural office. I had difficulties communicating with people there and had to leave. Then, I worked for an advertising agency. The social relations there were good for me, but I left my job for a different reason. Later, I worked as a window-dresser for a store having many branches. Even though I loved that job, I was feeling quite stressed. I returned to Izmir and realized that I was really not happy. I couldn’t read even a book.”

“My family could not tolerate my situation for 6 months”

One day, Merve felt that she rarely breathe, she took her backpack and a few pieces of clothing with her and went to the Demircili village of Urla. 

“When I first entered this house, located in a deserted area in nature, the house was completely dark. To be honest, I was afraid and it was also cold. Despite this, I had the chance to look at Urla from a different perspective and soon realized that I could spend time here. Then, I realized that I was living in this village. I couldn't believe myself, because I didn't think the decision I made would actually turn into such a lifestyle. My family could not tolerate this for six months. I have been living in this village for four years and I feel very happy to choose this life.”

“The weather decides what I will do”

Merve is a woman who has been joined the production for most of her life and she keeps producing in the village.

“I worked in three different jobs and certainly learned important things from them. They had both positive and negative effects on me. I faced some stressful situations in business life. And I felt I had to move to Urla. Everything started to change for me after I came to Urla. Actually, I didn't think I was so strong. I live here in a green atmosphere with lots of oxygen. The weather decides what I will do today. For example, if I wake up late in the morning, I feel depressed because I miss the bird calls and cannot see the sunrise. I find all materials to design my products in nature while walking. For example, one morning I go out to clean the beach, and then I find a pink seashell while collecting the garbage. The pink seashell becomes an object that I can turn into a completely different form a month later. Turning these materials into an artistic product excites me so much. I collect so much that sometimes I don’t know what to produce from them. While working in my workshop, I generally try to use natural materials.”

She wants to exhibit what she produces

Merve, who has a very interesting approach to design, continues to present her productions on a social media account named “Woodsurla” for a long time.

“My sibling opened a social media account and I share what I produce on this account. People’s comments on my social media account named “Woodsurla” motivate me. I would love to have a special exhibition to show my products.”