When you hear the word "flow," what comes to mind? Artists Melike Ceylan and Laila Blue come together to reflect on their distinct projects — both titled Flow — and the personal, cultural, and creative impulses behind them. Through an open exchange, they explore how their work engages with themes of the body, perception, and societal expectations while sharing the unexpected overlaps that emerge from their practices.
M: What does “flow” mean in your work?
L: My short film FLOW is about a fictional skincare company and the ingredients they put into their products versus how they market them to consumers. The reason why we came up with FLOW was because it was one letter off from a real skincare company that made my and my friends’ faces break out. So, we wanted to make fun of these guys, but also didn’t want to get sued. We just changed one letter, and that turned it from some other word to flow.
What about you? Why did you name your project “Flow”?
M: For me, it is the menstrual flow. The soundscape offers an auditory perspective to the menstrual flow with the sounds of belly rumbling, water dripping, plastic wrapping of the menstrual pads… I thought about whether I should use a euphemism like Aunt Flo or the Strawberry Week for the name. But I decided on Flow, because it was broad enough also to reflect the metaphors I drew on from nature. For example, the sounds of wind, which represented bloating and gas.
L: A lot of people, when they haven't seen FLOW, just assume my film's about the menstrual cycle. I was shocked. I didn't even think of that word meaning something else. I was just trying to make fun of a real company.
M: Did anyone find out?
L: Nobody noticed. The branding of the bottle is very close to the Ordinary, and a lot of people pick up on the Ordinary and some of the other jokes for another company, if they're a girl. Men don't.
I mean, my movie's not really for men. It's for girls ages 14 to 30 to help bring more awareness about how they’re sold their insecurities in a funny, easy-to-digest way. Do we have to get rid of our freckles? I think they're cute. If you have an acne scar, I think it adds character. It is crazy to me that women can’t wear stretch marks proudly.
M: During the installation of Flow, I heard something that made me very happy. Someone said, “I know that sound so well!” for the sound of ripping a menstrual pad. We always try to open the wrap as quietly as possible. It is a product we need, and we are already in pain! We should be able to use it without being concerned about anyone hearing it.
I find a bit of humour in that in-your-face quality in our works. What made you drawn to it?
L: I didn't know it was funny until it screened at a couple of festivals and people were laughing. I thought I was doing a straight-up body horror.
M: Do you think it was a nice surprise?
L: I used to do stand-up. I think maybe I'm just funny and I don't realize it sometimes. Comedy has always been a part of my life. Now on my new project, I decided to see how funny something can be if I'm intentionally funny, because when I wasn't, there are some really good comedic moments.
Were you surprised when people were recognizing the sounds?
M: It changed as I was working on the project. I started in a very abstract way. I recorded a variety of recognizable sounds from real life, like stomach gurgling, water dripping, plastic wrapper, thunderclap, and so on. I hid one excerpt here and one there within a more abstract composition. While I was testing the 16-speaker setup with some early, unprocessed materials, I actually liked them more.
When you work with a particular sound for a long time, or when you listen to it in a film or installation as an audience, and then hear it in real life, you can recognize it in a different way. Perhaps you are a bit more critical of all the bottles of cosmetic products. Maybe you feel more comfortable hearing the loudest menstrual products.
M & L: You are now used to it.
M: How did you come up with the idea?
L: I applied for an account to be able to apply for a grant, 'cause I come from an acting background and I decided to do my own project. I thought about what I can do cheaply in my basement (with spite!) so I can get directing credit and be allowed to apply.
I was brainstorming with my friends, which led to a side conversation about skincare and how our faces broke out from the same products. I thought maybe I should do a film on this. The idea grew from there, from full stop motion into mixed media.
M: The barrier for the grant…
L: Yeah, that made me go down this path, right? The short I was originally applying for was shelved, but I’m really happy I ended up making FLOW.
M: I think my early ideas started with me trying to explain how I’m feeling during the menstrual cycle to my partner. I have a condition called endometriosis.
L: Oh no, that's so painful. A few of my friends have it.
M: It is so cliché, but laughter is a great medicine for me. I thought I would have a lot of fun working on a project like this. I also had conversations with others about endo and/or menstrual disorders, for which I’m grateful, considering that is how I got a diagnosis in the first place. Women’s health is not explored historically or in contemporary music repertoire. That motivated me.
I guess such artistic projects come from personal experiences.
L: Oh, for sure. Personal experience, your voice, or a love. Love from a family member, a friend, comes from a place of empathy, of wanting to know and understand what they're going through, but also wanting to share that with the world.
I used to get bad cramps. I’m on medication for it that stops me from having a menstrual cycle. One year, I was on TikTok until 3 a.m. All of a sudden, my algorithm changed and it kept saying, “Stop taking birth control!” I immediately, without talking to a doctor and thinking through it, stopped taking the medication. I got my first period in a long time. I can’t believe how weird and awkward I felt in the store buying products. I ended up calling my friend, whispering, I don't know what to buy. The shame I felt in that aisle should not be normal.
M: There is still taboo and stigma about periods, but it is also considered “normal” to have pain. Flow is also my way of exploring how we are normalizing the pain and suffering, but not necessarily the way we treat it or talk about it.
L: Is there something that we, as a society, can do to say, “You're going through this right now; let's have empathy, let's let you rest”?
I immediately went back on birth control. I don't care what TikTok says about it.
M: There’s so much misinformation. It is often “birth control is bad for you, but buy my course or unregulated vitamins.” Don't believe it. Don't get health advice on TikTok.
L: Don't do it! It was crazy to me how it took a 2-hour scroll. I try not to be influenced. All my work is about this: don’t be influenced by these labels. I still buy that s*** and not even think twice. Same with the food. My next project explores the same themes in the food industry.
M: As we wrap our conversation, shall we share our upcoming works?
L: I have 2 new films doing the circuit. We have Boxed in, which is a short film proof-of-concept for a feature film that we have in development. I have another short film that is in pre-production. It should come out in 2027: The Burrito Conspiracy. All written and directed by me.
M: The stereo version of Flow is available on Bandcamp, and I am currently working on a new series of compositions to be released in late 2026.
Discover more from Melike at www.melikeceylan.com and Laila on Instagram @lailabluee.